Lindsay Davenport Sets Up Bali Showdown with Jelena Jankovic
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Sep 13, 2007 | Print | Email | Bookmark | Free Subscription
Lindsay Davenport has reached the quarterfinals in her first singles event since coming out of “quasi” retirement at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic today in Bali, Indonesia.
Next up for the former number one is the third best player in the world, Jelena Jankovic.
After straight set wins over Eleni Daniilidou and Julie Ditty, Lindsay is excited to be in the quarterfinals of her first tournament since giving birth to a son in June.
“It’s a great position for me to be in,” said Davenport in a Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic press release. “She’s obviously had a great year. This is what I came back to do, to play some matches and try to play some good players, so I’m excited about it.”
Excited? Yes. Ready? Not quite.
“It can be a good test of where I am, but it’s awfully soon,” added Davenport. “I don’t know what to expect. The court’s fast so that does help me, but to be honest it probably is a bit soon to play somebody at the very top. It’s a great challenge and I know I can play well. I just don’t know how well.”
Fortunately for Davenport, she will not be up against Jankovic at her best. The Energizer Rabbit of women’s tennis is starting to run out of energy, and has admitted that she played too much tennis earlier this season.
She will not be making that same mistake again during the rest of 2007.
Jankovic has been enjoying the sights and sounds of Bali over the past week, playing golf, participating in a fashion shoot, painting, making a string of pearls for charity, and enjoying the on-site spa.
“I didn’t practise much after the Open,” said Jankovic.
“I had five days off and didn’t do anything, and when you’re here it’s very tough to focus you know. I’ve been enjoying the place so much. It’s unusual not to play until Thursday, but I was just doing activities off the court and all the other girls were playing. So I need to get back to my job and focus more on the court.”
She reached the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australia’s Casey Dellacqua, but not before losing the first four games of the match.
“I didn’t have good timing out there and I was making a lot of mistakes,” admitted the top seed after the match.
“I was very erratic and didn’t play the way I wanted, but a win is a win. I made such a bad start, but then I started to find my rhythm a little bit and put more balls in the court. I was hanging in there and won the match, but I didn’t play great at all.”
Her timing will be crucial against Davenport, even if Lindsay is fighting hard to get rid of her post-baby rust.
Davenport’s ground strokes are still among the best in tennis and like today, Jankovic will need to be willing to hang in there, work Davenport around the court, and play the net - the same tactics that have already led her to four titles this season.
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Chris | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Unless Davenport tanks or is too tired after her quarterfinal against Jankovic, if she beats her, this title is so hers for the taking. This QF pretty much decides who wins this title, unless Hantuchova magically starts playing well again.
I’m excited for Lindsay. I hope she plays well in Beijing too.
Vicki | Sep 13, 2007 | Reply
Love your use of the words “quasi” retirement” I’ve heard Lindsay’s retirement called a lot of things but that original and clever.
Hope Lindsay does well against Jelena can’t really see Lindsay beating Jelena but would love to be proved wrong.
hako | Sep 14, 2007 | Reply
I really like both players, and it should be a nice match. If Lindsay serves well and finds her range on the ground strokes she will win. She can push Venus around with those ground strokes. If Jelena can get Lindsay off her pins, and get a look at some seconds serves, she could win as well. To me, the match is in Lindsay’s hands.