Lindsay Davenport Tops Career Earnings List, Sets up Sharapova Showdown

When Lindsay Davenport said she was quitting tennis for good, no one, least of all Davenport herself, thought that after enduring thirteen years of aches, pains, triumphs, and heartbreaks she would change her mind

Thirteen months later, Davenport is facing a second round match against Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open, and has officially been named the highest earner in women’s sport.

The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced on Monday that after winning her first round match against Sara Errani, Davenport eclipsed Steffi Graf on the all-time list of career earners. Davenport is guaranteed to return to California with a minimum of $25,284, edging out Graf by $2,224.

“This is an historic milestone for Lindsay and indeed for all women athletes,” said Tour CEO Larry Scott.

“It’s a testament to Lindsay’s dedication, hard work and talent that she has become the all-time prize money leader of our sport. Her commitment throughout the years has been unwavering, and even more impressive following her extraordinary comeback following the birth of her son last year.”

After hanging up her racquet supposedly for good, Davenport is surprised to see that she is still setting milestones at the veteran age of thirty-one.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Davenport. “I never thought I’d be back playing tennis and having this much fun in the process, let alone breaking any records.

Sometimes a lengthy absence is all a player needs to rediscover her love of the game, and for Davenport a nine-month pregnancy was just what the tennis doctor ordered. Son Jagger was only weeks old when Davenport returned to the practice courts, only to realize that she still had what it takes to compete with the best in the world.

Seasons removed from her three Grand Slam trophies; Davenport has not felt better in years. At only six months of age, Jagger already has more stamps in his passport book than most middle-aged Americans, thanks to Mommy’s recent titles in Bali, Quebec City, and Auckland.

Jagger’s latest stamp was for Australia, the country where Davenport won her last singles major eight years ago in 2000.

Her first round against Sara Errani was not perfect, having been kept out on the court for an extra set, but a win is still a win despite the scoreboard.

However, her next opponent will not be as easy a foe.

Maria Sharapova knows well how dangerous Lindsay can be, especially when Davenport’s blistering serve is on target, but Sharapova does lead their head-to-head record 4-1. However, that single loss was one she remembered for a while – a double-bagel embarrassment in the semifinals of the 2005 Pacific Life Open.

Although she has won four out of the five meetings, each victory required three sets from Sharapova. Part of this is because the two women’s games are very similar. Both rely heavily on groundstrokes from the baseline, and what could be the deciding factor in Wednesday’s match, a solid first serve.

“Lindsay’s a big hitter, has a big serve,” said Sharapova about the upcoming meeting. “She’s more of a 1-2 ball combination type of player. It’s going to be very important to serve well and return well and hopefully get a good hit on the first ball.”

All the top players knew that Davenport would be the most dangerous floater in the draw this year, but Sharapova does not consider it misfortune or bad luck that Davenport was dealt in her quarter.

She is ready to bring the competition on.

“If I can’t beat them [unseeded Grand Slam champions] in the second round, I can’t beat them at all.”