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MEMPHIS, Tennessee: Fourth seeded Lindsay Davenport won her 55th
career WTA title by overpowering Olga Govortsova 6-2, 6-1, in the final of the WTA/ATP Memphis hardcourt
tournament on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Davenport, who opened her season with a win in
Auckland, New Zealand, needed just over one hour to dispatch World
No. 49 Govortsova.
The 31-year-old Davenport improved her match
record to 13-2 this season.
“I obviously had no idea coming back what was
going to happen,” said Davenport. “I’ve been smart about my
schedule and it’s hard work but it’s been really fulfilling.”
Davenport returned to competition after the
birth of her first child in June.
During a remarkable run over the past few
months, the former No. 1 has risen from 234th to 46th in the WTA
rankings.
Playing in her first American tournament since
the 2006 US Open, Davenport was playing the 19-year-old Govortsova
for the first time.
“After I got through my first round I felt
confident throughout the rest of the week,” said Davenport, who
tied Virginia Wade for No. 7 on the all-time singles winners list.
“My draw opened up a bit with the upsets. To
win here comfortably gives me confidence with the upcoming bigger
tournaments where I will have to play some Top 10 players.”
Govortsova defeated 2007 finalist Shahar Peer in
the semifinals.
On the men’s side, Sweden’s Robin Soderling,
who outgunned top-seeded American Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals
on Friday, knocked off Czech Radek Stepanek 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.
In the final he’ll face Belgian Steve Darcis,
who rallied to beat Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in
the other men’s semifinal.
-- AFP
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