Davenport Beat Williams for First Time in 2000
October 23, 2000 - 0:0
LINZ, Austria Lindsay Davenport pulled off her first victory of the year over U.S. compatriot Venus Williams on Sunday, beating the world number three 6-4 3-6 6-2 to take the Linz women's tournament trophy.
World number two Davenport shrugged off fatigue for her third title in 2000, ending Williams' run of 35-match victories and six tournament titles, including Olympic gold at Sydney.
Top seed Davenport had been unable to beat Williams in their previous three confrontations in the finals at Wimbledon, Stanford and the U.S. Open.
Davenport, who lost last week's final in Zurich to world number one Martina Hingis, called off her participation in next week's Kremlin Cup and will instead take a two-week holiday.
"I learnt this year that my health is more fragile than I had hoped," said Davenport, who suffered from a foot, wrist and back problems earlier in the season.
"Also, my sister had a baby yesterday so I would like to go back home and be with the family." Williams, visibly upset after the defeat, said: "One loss in 35 isn't that bad. This year I have only suffered four losses.
I've been playing good tennis and that was important." Quick Break Davenport, the 1996 Olympic champion got the edge over Williams with a quick break in the opening game as both players attacked from the baseline in a big-serving match.
Williams managed to break back but Davenport also took her opponent's service game to level at 3-3 with a superb cross court forehand and then claimed the set three games later.
The pair exchanged breaks once to level 2-2 in the second set before Davenport's tennis became slightly messy. She netted a crucial shot to hand williams a break at 5-3 and the set.
The third set was wide open with both players hammering down serves until a brilliant forehand cross by Davenport led to a break for 4-2.
Davenport, who has reached 11 finals this year, won 11 points in a row and used her third match point to break again for 6-2 and the title.
"The match was very even for the first two sets. It was important to get the first set under my belt. I hung in there and got that break which decided things in my favor," said Davenport.
"I'm happy to win. I thought I played well all week and really enjoyed myself here." (Rueter)
World number two Davenport shrugged off fatigue for her third title in 2000, ending Williams' run of 35-match victories and six tournament titles, including Olympic gold at Sydney.
Top seed Davenport had been unable to beat Williams in their previous three confrontations in the finals at Wimbledon, Stanford and the U.S. Open.
Davenport, who lost last week's final in Zurich to world number one Martina Hingis, called off her participation in next week's Kremlin Cup and will instead take a two-week holiday.
"I learnt this year that my health is more fragile than I had hoped," said Davenport, who suffered from a foot, wrist and back problems earlier in the season.
"Also, my sister had a baby yesterday so I would like to go back home and be with the family." Williams, visibly upset after the defeat, said: "One loss in 35 isn't that bad. This year I have only suffered four losses.
I've been playing good tennis and that was important." Quick Break Davenport, the 1996 Olympic champion got the edge over Williams with a quick break in the opening game as both players attacked from the baseline in a big-serving match.
Williams managed to break back but Davenport also took her opponent's service game to level at 3-3 with a superb cross court forehand and then claimed the set three games later.
The pair exchanged breaks once to level 2-2 in the second set before Davenport's tennis became slightly messy. She netted a crucial shot to hand williams a break at 5-3 and the set.
The third set was wide open with both players hammering down serves until a brilliant forehand cross by Davenport led to a break for 4-2.
Davenport, who has reached 11 finals this year, won 11 points in a row and used her third match point to break again for 6-2 and the title.
"The match was very even for the first two sets. It was important to get the first set under my belt. I hung in there and got that break which decided things in my favor," said Davenport.
"I'm happy to win. I thought I played well all week and really enjoyed myself here." (Rueter)