Comeback Run at Open Ends for Lindsay Davenport; No Retirement Announcement
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Aug 29, 2008 | Print |
Former world number one Lindsay Davenport was defeated in straight sets by Marion Bartoli on Friday night at the US Open.
This loss ended Davenport’s comeback dreams prematurely at the Grand Slam where she won her first major title in 1998.
Davenport looked uncomfortable during the match and her timing was clearly off on her forehand side. She struggled to get back into the match after a second rain delay in the opening set, only to lose in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(3).
“I just never felt comfortable out there,” admitted Davenport in her post-match press conference. “And then I was trying so hard to get back in the second, was able to do that, and then played one of the worst games of my career, 5-All.”
During the eleventh game of the second set at 5-5, Davenport hit four double faults, mishitting three of her second serves in a row.
While Davenport was clearly disappointed by her performance today, she resisted any immediate calls for an announcement of her retirement.
“All I know is I have doubles at 2:30 tomorrow,” added Davenport. “That’s about as far as I’m thinking. I think it’s tough to make any kind of decision in a rash moment, and there was no decision made before the tournament, so I don’t think it’s time to make a certain statement now.”
Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also lost earlier in the day to Katarina Srebotnik 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-3.
The two former US Open champions were the latest Grand Slam winners to lose at Flushing Meadows this week. Top seed and 2008 Roland Garros champion Ana Ivanovic lost on Thursday to France’s Julie Coin.
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