Samantha Stosur Shocks Lindsay Davenport at JPMorgan Chase Open
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Aug 9, 2006 | Print
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Lindsay Davenport was stunned today with an opening round loss at the JPMorgan Chase Open in Carson, California by Australia’s Samantha Stosur.
Playing in her first match since March, Davenport took the first set 7-6(4), but Stosur came back to win the match after over two hours 6-4, 6-3.
Before she returned to action after a six-month injury lay-off, Davenport was cautiously optimistic about her chances at winning the title this week. Her performance today was hardly close to the old Davenport that held the No.1 ranking for almost a year straight last season. Normally she is one of the most powerful and consistent servers on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, but her serve was completely off against Stosur. Davenport fired only two aces compared to Stosur’s fourteen, and even worse, she committed ten double faults.
Davenport’s next event is scheduled to be the Pilot Pen in New Haven, but if I was in her shoes, with the US Open looming in just weeks, I would seriously consider asking for the one remaining wildcard into the Rogers Cup next week.
August 15 Update: Lindsay actually wanted to play in Montreal - but was denied a wildcard, even though most of the other top players withdrew.
Oh, and for once, Lindsay Davenport decided late that she actually wanted to play in Canada, but she had not signed up for a commitment sheet, stating she would play a certain number of tournaments in the second half of the year. So in a week with no actual second seed, Davenport was denied by the inflexible WTA bureaucracy.
(source: National Post)
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coni | Aug 10, 2006 | Reply
it’s hard to say it was a shocking loss for lindsay ‘coz all that rust from her 5-month lay off is understandable. but one thing i’ve always admired about lindsay is her resiliency and as she said (of her loss) “..it stinks but it is a step forward for me.” i don’t think she likes unsolicited advise (of going to Roger Cup) but i believe that with injuries (hopefully) all gone, and with 100% support from hubby jon, and we her countless fans, she would work harder to get back at the top of her game. i am no dreamer but there i have no doubt in my heart that come the US Open, she would still be a strong contender for the singles title
jeanmarie | Aug 13, 2006 | Reply
brilliant words Coni.
it wasn’t shocking when you have it in the context of her being out for five months and only practicing normally for three weeks. but, nevertheless Lindsay is BACK! and she sounds like she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, almost like she has something still to prove. i agree about canada, she hates the conditions there, so it’s out of the question, give her some more time.
oh, and Jon is my hero! I always knew there was a reason I liked him.