Feeling Damp

Lindsay Davenport and the U.S. women's Federation Cup team are feeling a little damp after two days of their tie against Germany in which just two matches have been complete due to persistent rain.

This was to be the new mom's triumphant return to the Fed Cup circuit, but she faltered on Saturday against unheralded German Sabine Lisicki in the tie's opening match before Ashley Harkleroad was able to even things up with a straight set win of her own.

Play is scheduled to resume today, but whether or not Lindsay can resume the form she opened her comeback tour with last fall is unknown. Many times when a player returns, they experience a sort of honeymoon period when the ball looks bigger, the angles look easier and opponents shots feel slower.

But perhaps Davenport has floated out of this period and has come back to earth in a sense. She won three of the first four tournaments she played in since September, but played alarmingly bad in her opening match at the Australian Open against Sara Errani, winning 7-5 in the third.

Following that win, D-mama went on to be crushed by tournament champ Maria Sharapova in the second round, providing little resistance in a match that was built up to be a blockbuster.

So as many of us had guessed last summer when Davenport first announced her comeback, perhaps the American's tennis ship really has sailed. She has a chance today to prove me wrong, when she takes the court for both a singles and doubles rubber.

The Showdown: Maria Victorious

Maria Sharapova was firing on all cylinders last night in her 6-1 6-3 win over a resurgent Lindsay Davenport.

See the last two games here:

Davenport Squeaks By, Too

Lindsay Davenport joined Jelena Jankovic in the "just barely" column today by beating unknown Italian Sara Errani 6-2 3-6 7-5 in the first round.

The last time Davenport was stretched to such great lengths in a first-round match at the Aussie was in 1994, when she beat Canadian star Patricia Hy-Boulais 3-6 6-2 7-5. Davenport would go on to the quarterfinals of that tournament, losing to world no. 1 Steffi Graf in straight sets.

The American has a potential match-up with Maria Sharapova in the second round, a bit harder than her '94 second round opponent: Wiltrud Probst.

My favorite Canadian (no, not Hy-Boulais) Frank Dancevic fell in five sets in his first match while the American trio of Mardy Fish, Jesse Levine and Andy Roddick are all through to round two.

If you're not in an Aussie mood yet, maybe this commercial will get you there:

TGIF: Tennis Chatter

Justine Henin just keeps winning tennis matches. The world no. 1 beat Ana Ivanovic in a hotly contested three-set match in the semifinals at Sydney to extend her winning streak to 27 matches. The last player to beat Henin? WTA resident cafeteria expert Marion Bartoli.

Chris Guccione is the Marina Erakovic of the week at Sydney. Man, I love these Cinderella stories. Hopefully, we'll see a few at the big show in Melbourne next week.

Did you expect anything different from the DUD?

The men's draw is up for the Aussie. Federer has Verdasco, Isner and Tipsarevic early - is he ready for that?

Meanwhile, the women are all drawn up, too. All eyes are on: a Sharapova-Davenport second-round showdown. Winner gets Justine in the quarters.

Speaking of that match-up, here's Davenport's frighteningly bad finish to the Wimbledon 2004 semifinals.

Week One Wrap; Videos

Believe it or not, the first week of the 2008 tennis season is over. It always shocks me how fast time can move, and the tennis world is always a prime example of that. The season's end turns into exhibition season which turns into the holidays and before we know it, the Australian Open is just a week away.

No one has made more of the last three months in tennis than Lindsay Davenport. The American has stormed back onto the tour and has looked better than ever. Her victory in Auckland this week may go unnoticed by the big shots in tennis, but Davenport has made on thing clear: she's back compete, not just to play. Davenport beat up-and-comer Tamira Paszek in the semifinals before dismissing Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai for her 54th career title. Video to come.

Meanwhile, China's top woman, Li Na, made her comeback to the tennis tour with a win in Gold Coast. Na is China's only hope for an Olympic run. The 25-year-old is China's highest ranked player, and with a lethal baseline game - including a massive forehand - Na can only improve before Shanghai. Video to come.

Rafael Nadal won a Spanish battle in India, saving four match points to beat Carlos Moya in the semifinals at Chennai. Can Moya have another stellar year? It's certainly possible. If you want to be wowed, watch the highlights below.



And for your enjoyment, the always-entertaining Novak Djokovic with countrywoman Jelena Jankovic at the Hopman Cup. Can anyone see these two playing mixed in the majors? I would love that!

Underdogs Version: Men and Women

Now that the tennis year is in full swing, I thought it might be time to do something a little less predictable; something other than the top 10. 2007 was full of breakout artists: Ivanovic, Jankovic, Djokovic...and those are just the Serbs that caught our attention!

Here's a short list of players I think will make big noise in '08:
Lindsay Davenport
World rank: 72 '07 record: 13-1 Highlight: Winning two of three tournaments in her baby-in-tow return.
Lindsay Davenport was the feel-good story of the fall while the tennis world was engulfed in a storm of scandal that included the on-going betting scandal, Martina Hingis' bizarre re-retirement and speculation of a fixed exhibition series between the two GOATs.

Davenport's return isn't all about feeling good, however, it's about feeling great. The new mother blazed to a 13-1 record while collecting two titles and announcing a powerful return to the tour. The Californian has already committed to a full slam schedule (minus the French, of course) and has opened '08 with two wins already.

Prediction: It's hard to put Davenport up there with Henin (who she always struggled against), the Williamses and others. I think she'll no doubt make some noise at the slams, and may garner a runner-up trophy or two...but nothing more.

Tamira Pazsek
World rank: 41 '07 record: 33-18 Highlight: Making the 4th round at the USO (and beating Schnyder along the way).
Tamira Pazsek is the full package. The 17-year-old Austrian made the 4th round at both Wimbledon and the US Open on her way to finishing the year ranked 41st in the world. Her strong backcourt game was groomed for much of the year by Larry Passos, the former coach of Gustavo Kuerten. Though Passos and Pazsek have gone separate ways, the teen will certainly be a top 20 player by the end of the year.

Prediction: Top 20 by year's end along with a grand slam quarterfinal appearance (or two). In '09 she'll join Ivanovic, Jankovic and company in the "Slam Contender" category.

Agnes Szavay
World rank: 20 '07 record: 56-14 Highlight: Rising nearly 200 spots in the rankings in one calendar year.
Szavay won her first WTA title in Beijing this past fall, beating Jankovic in the final as the sixth seed. Her victory capped off what was an extremely impressive year for the Hungarian, who finished the year at No. 20 in the rankings following an impressive run to the quarters at the US Open.

Prediction: Szavay will continue her run up the rankings, but not quite at the pace she did in 2007. She doesn't have many points to defend early in the year, and could climb into the top 15 before the French. Expect her to hover there for the next year or so, before breaking in to the top 10 in '09 or '10.

Julie Ditty
World rank: 101 '07 record: 49-25 Highlight: Winning six matches at Quebec and making her first ever WTA semifinal.
Vanderbilt grad Julie Ditty continued her steady rise up the rankings in 2007 with a flurry of wins on the ITF tour. Her best results, however, came on the WTA circuit in late fall, when she qualified for four straight tournaments including Quebec, where she made the semifinals.

Prediction: The lefty has the chance to climb up the rankings (much like Szavay) early in the year. She'll be top 80 by the end of the year.

Janko Tipsarevic
World rank: 52 '07 record: 19-22 Highlight: His 8-6 in-the-fifth win over Fernando Gonzalez at Wimbledon.
Tipsarevic, the Prince of Serbian Tennis, made his mark on the ATP Tour last year by going 6-4 in the majors, including a dazzling performance at the All England Club. He won three straight five-set matches to advance to the 4th round before falling to a red-hot Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Prediction: Janko's cooky playing style, partnered with his speed and grit, will keep him in the top 50 this year. If he can stay healthy, and continue to feed off the positive energy of countryman Novak Djokovic, we could see him as a seeded player at Wimbledon and the USO.

Frank Dancevic
World rank: 72 '07 record: 18-19 Highlight: The quarterfinals at AMS Canada.
Frank Dancevic had quite the summer, where he went 7-2 and scored wins over Andy Roddick and Fernando Verdasco. After making the finals at Indianapolis, Dancevic wowed his hometown crowd in Canada by taking Rafael Nadal to three sets in the quarterfinals.

Prediction: The Canadian will continue to win matches with his rifle serve and dangerous one-handed backhand. He'll be top 50 by year's end, if not before.

Fernando Verdasco
World rank: 26 '07 record: 34-28 Highlight: Advancing to the 4th round at RG after seven straight losses.
This is the year for Fernando Verdasco. At least, that's what I say. After demonstrating so much talent and so little execution over the last few years, Verdasco, now 24, should solidify his place inside the top 20 in 2008. The success of Rafael Nadal has no doubt motivated his fellow Spaniards, and Verdasco, along with Feliciano Lopez should benefit from Nadal's success this year with some of his own.

Prediction: Top 20. Semifinals at the French.

Bring Me a Trophy, Santa

I love Christmas. Really, I do. I can't help but love it. The romantic idea that this is the season when families come together and share what is most important in their lives: each other. Though I partly believe that Christmas has become anything but that, the few weeks at the end of the year between "Happy Thanksgiving!" and "Happy New Year!" are some of my favorite.

One tennis player that will be celebrating with a larger family this year is Lindsay Davenport, the WTA's new cover girl in its I-Can-Give-Birth-And-Play-Tennis-Too Campaign.

Though some are critical of Davenport and her recent return, I am rather tickled by her decision to return to the tour. Not only does Davenport demonstrate a passion and elegance of an era gone by, but I think she believes - truly believes - that she has some top quality tennis left in her.

That's one thing many players on the woman's tour struggle with today: belief. It was evident in Kim Clijsters, who knew she was good, knew she was great, but couldn't quite muster up the courage to believe in her ability to be the best. The result? A one slam wonder.

And it's the complete opposite problem for Clijsters' countrywoman Justine Henin, who couldn't believe in herself more. Henin not only believes she can conquer the tennis world, she knows that she can. It's this sort of attitude that has gotten Henin in trouble with the press in the past because such a disposition comes off as arrogant and cocky.

But Davenport is anything but arrogant and cocky. For so long, the Girl Next Door has been American tennis' favorite daughter. Sure, there are the Williams sisters, and Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles. But none of them possess the charm - the "it" factor - that Davenport does.

So last week, when Davenport announced that she was going full-throttle in 2008 by playing at least three of four grand slams (she'll probably skip the French Open) I couldn't help but be overjoyed. The end of '07 proved that Davenport still has that "it" factor everyone - including her - is inspired by.

There are two images seared in my brain of Davenport: the first is the post-pudgy Lindsay, at the 1998 US Open, lumbering towards the net to run down a Martina Hingis drop shot before plowing the ball past her Swiss opponent for her first grand slam title. She raises her arms mostly in triumph, but more in sheer disbelief.

The second is a somewhat unattached Lindsay, rocking back and forth behind the baseline, waiting to return a Venus Williams serve on championship point at Wimbledon in 2005. It was a moment that I wish Davenport would have seized better, and I would guess she feels the same way.

But I think those are the images that keep Davenport herself out on the court everyday, with husband Rick Leach as a hitting partner and son Jagger as a courtside constant. Lindsay still has something to prove of the champion she was in 1998 and 2005, and, hopefully still is in 2008.

So to a Merry Christmas for Lindsay and company, who are no doubt enjoying themselves in Southern California before boarding a plane for Australia, home of the Easter Bunny. If there's another family Lindsay would like to help grow in the year to come, it'd be her grand slam trophy family. That's one Christmas wish Santa (and Lindsay) may deliver on.

Honorable Mention

Ed McGrogan gave Honorable Mention to Lindsay Davenport and David Nalbandian yesterday on Peter Bodo's TENNISWORLD, saying that if the two were playing in their respective YECs they'd make some noise.

So if you had the chance to give Honorable Mention to one man and one woman on tour - who would it be?

Contribute to the Chatter -- TELL US!

Finals Videos

Paris Masters Series - Paris, FRA
David Nalbandian defeats Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-0.


Bell Challenge - Quebec City, CAN
Lindsay Davenport defeats Julia Vakulenko 6-4, 6-1.

...I know that Canadians do things a little differently, but does NO ONE in that country have a video camera?!? I mean, I know I'm asking a lot to have a video up the day after the final - but what's the deal, eh?

Because of the lack of a Quebec video, I decided to include this vintage match between Davenport and Monica Seles from 10 years ago(!), 1997. Enjoy!

A Tale of Two Comebacks

Lindsay Davenport and David Nalbandian have both worked off their respective 'guts' in the past few months and the results are speaking for themselves.

The American, back from semi-retirement and giving birth to her first child, and the Argentine, back from a sluggish year and a brief dis-interest in his career path, have both claimed two titles this fall to the shock and surprise of the tennis world.

Davenport, following her September win in Bali, cleaned up in Quebec this week, beating Julia Vakulenko in the final of the Bell Challenge 6-4, 6-1.

It was the second title in three tournaments for the new mom, who returned to the tour a year after leaving. With the win, Davenport finishes 2007 13-1 and should move into the Top 100.

Meanwhile, Nalbandian captured two more prestigious tournaments this week, winning at the Madrid Masters two weeks again and claiming the Paris Masters this week in France.

The Argentine, a former Top 5 player who currently sits at No. 21 in the ATP - thanks in part to his win in Madrid - beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-0 for a comfortable win in Paris.

Salvaging a rather ugly 2007, Nalbandian has set himself up - along with Davenport - to be a major force on the tour in 2008.

Tennis Chatter: Hingis Update, etc.

While I was (not) going to class yesterday and picking up my parents at the airport, Martina Hingis was retiring from professional tennis.

The "breaking news" that I thought surfaced this morning was a nearly a day old - so is the life of a student blogger, right?

Lindsay Davenport - officially un-retired and cocaine free - continued her assault on the women's tennis tour, belting her way into the quarterfinals of Quebec, where she's a wildcard. Two titles in three tries for the California mom? It's looking that way.

Want to hear what Roger Federer had to say after his loss to Nalbandian yesterday? Click here.

Speaking of Hingis, the WTA issued this statement from Larry Scott.

Hingis' full statement can be found on Peter Bodo's TennisWorld.

And the video (for the emotion, not the words):

TGIF: Tennis Chatter

The keyword "tennis" brings up 86,200 videos on YouTube. It's incredible to think of all those videos added by users that include pro tennis matches, commercials, player appearances, etc., along with homemade videos of individuals playing tennis, watching tennis or whatever. A lot of the videos are table tennis related, as well, and some have nothing to do with tennis at all! ...They just happen to have a "tennis" tag.

The top few videos (most watched) fall under the table tennis category. So I wanted to find out what was the most watched pro tennis video. After a little digging I found that this video, featuring Mr. Novak Djokovic, is the top tennis vid with over 1.3 million views. Check it out:



Defending Bangkok champion Vania King won a nail-biter over Dominika Cibulkova 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. If King wants to salvage her mediocre season, getting to the semis or finals of the tournament she won last year (featuring a much tougher draw this year) would be quite the accomplishment.

Sybille Bammer isn't the WTA's favorite mama anymore. Lindsay Davenport has stolen that title, and, it seems, #1 Mama as well. Bonnie Ford writes about Davenport's success since her comeback.

Scroll to the bottom of this news brief to see what Venus had to say after her loss to Virginie Razzano last week in Tokyo.

Paul Henri-Mathieu and Janko Tipsarevic continued their successful seasons with wins in Moscow on Friday to advance to the semifinals.

Vote on TENNIS.com on whether you think Sharapova will win a major next year or not. You might be surprised by the results once you vote.

Clip of the Week: Davenport Bagels Maria FLASHBACK!

While perusing my favorite tennis blogs the other day, I found this post on TennisPlanet. Completely random and totally off topic, I found the post rather intriguing.

Lindsay Davenport's smackdown of Maria Sharapova at Indian Wells 2005 was one for the ages. It was Sharapova's only double-bagel loss of her career.

The sheer similarity of the two baseliner's games was what stunned me most of the lopsided score. Both Davenport and Sharapova had their strokes honed by Robert Lansdorp, but on this day it was the American's driving balls that sent Sharapova packing.

Tennis Chatter: Men Play Tennis, Too

With all my discussion of the women's tennis tour lately, you'd think the ATP had halted its season following the US Open. The men are still playing folks, and Fernando Gonzalez was victorious in Beijing this week to end an ugly summer slump in style.

Gilles Simon beat Victor Hanescu in Romania. Oh, I'm sorry...did you just fall asleep reading that? I fell asleep typing it. Yawn, yawn, yawn.

One kid who didn't do much yawning this week was Jagger Leach (Davenport). Lindsay's son was so bedazzled with his mom's tennis that reports say his face was in a permanent "o" shape all week.



Jagger isn't playing tennis...just yet.

The Comeback Queens

The US Open always makes me nostalgic. Every year brings its thrilling matches (though fewer this year than others) along with plenty of drama and sometimes - if we're lucky - outright cattiness.

Back in 1995, when I was just 9 years old, I remember sitting in front of our TV at home in Montana watching Monica Seles, dressed in a plaid skirt with a tight-pulled ponytail, belting balls back and forth with world number one Steffi Graf.

Seles had just returned from over two years off the tour following the horrific stabbing in Hamburg, Germany in April of 1993. She had gone through rounds of physical battles over the 27 months, but it was the mental climb (helped in part by her attacker being sentenced to absolutely no time in jail) that took her the longest to make.

When Seles came back, however, she was the darling of the tennis tour. Over the next eight year, Monica would show us flashes of brilliance that she demonstrated in the early 90s. She was the original Comeback Queen.

Six years after Seles' triumphant return, Jennifer Capriati made a run at the Australian Open that shook the tennis world to the core. Since her Slam debut at the 1990 French Open (at age 14), JCap had been christened the darling (and future) of tennis.

(Capriati at Wimbledon in 1989, just months after turning pro and still a tennis princess. Photo by jacdupree via flickr.)

Yet the child prodigy from Florida would fizzle instead of flourish, falling off the map in 1994 after less-than-hoped-for results on the tour. In 2001, technically five years into her 'comeback', Capriati re-committed herself to the game she had played since a toddler and won her first Grand Slam ten long years after everyone thought she would.

Martina Hingis was much like Seles and Capriati: a teen upstart with an sassy attitude and the game to match. In 1997, the then 16 year old won three of the four Majors and was the number one player in the world. Five years later she was a bitter middleweight, and left the tour due to 'foot problems'.

Though Hingis was driven away not by a knife or the lure of normalcy, the same call that Seles and Capriati heard beckoned the Swiss Miss back to the WTA in 2006, where she made a triumphant return into the Top 10.

Though Hingis has not produced a Slam in her second go as a pro, the verdict is still out on whether or not she indeed can be christened a Comeback Queen. As is the verdict on Lindsay Davenport, who is just one tournament (in singles) and a handful matches into her trial as touring mother.

Davenport's comeback comes under much different circumstnces than the three former teen queens, yet the goal is the same: win a Slam and get back to the top of the game. The Californian's strokes have always been some of the cleanest and most effective on tour, but will her once-scrutinized limited movement become a liability again?

It's hard to tell so soon, but it's easy to see that Davenport would like to join the distinguished of both the past (the aforementioned Queens) and the present (Henin, Williams and co.). Does she have what it takes?

If becoming a mom can teach Davenport one thing, perhaps it is how to handle her mood swings on the court. For much of her career, the American struggled with negativity on the court. With slumping shoulders and a moping attitude, Davenport lost many matches that - if she had the fighting spirit of a Serena Williams - she might have been able to have pulled out.

So if Jagger has taught Lindsay any lessons yet, they might give his mom an idea of how to become a Comeback Queen.

Tennis Chatter

Lindsay Davenport is undefeated in her singles career as a mother. She next takes on Julie Ditty, an American journeywoman.

Roger Federer looked pretty good for his US Open trophy photo shoot. Justine Henin, on the other hand, did not.

The TENNIS WEEK Web site still looks like it was designed (and has never been chance since) the late 90s. Aren't they supposed to have a new, cutting-edge image in tennis?

Svetlana Kuznetsova is the number two player in the world?!? Whhhhhhattt? This girl just got a tag on my blog two days ago. Man, the WTA really is struggling...

She's Baaack!

Lindsay Davenport is officially un-retired.

The former world number one and three-time Slam champ will return to a mostly-full schedule in 2008, but not before she knocks a few balls off her strings in Bali.

She's ranked number 112 right now. Can she make a charge for the YEC's? I'd love to see that!

(Just please tell me she'll leave the Davapants at home. Photo by Derek Holtham via flickr.)

Tennis Chatter

Roger Federer turns 50. In titles, that is.

Donald Young finally won his first ATP match in 12 tries.

The Arthur Ashe countdown inches closer to number one.

Lisa Raymond and Lindsay Davenport draw the number one seed in Davenport's comeback match. Can they conquer?

And Jelena Jankovic blew another lead to lose her 7th straight match to JH.

Ten Days: Ten Topics

Being gone from the tennis world - from the entire world, for that matter - for 10 days feels like a lifetime. Four delayed flights, five days at the cabin and one late-delivered bag later, I'm back in the TENNIS Magazine offices this morning. But, to my utmost shock and surprise, the tennis world continued while I was away. Here's what I missed the most.

1. Jennifer Capriati was on court at the Acura Classic after the women's final to help bid farewell to one of the WTA's most beloved tournaments. I hope it wasn't a pseudo farewell for J-Cap too...

2. Lindsay Davenport officially took the Hingis Train for her comeback transportation. From WTT to doubles to singles. Let's see if the new mama can make some waves on her return to the tour.

3. Sam Querrey and John Isner announced their arrivals on the tour. Is anyone else seeing a taller-than-6'3-trend here?

4. Troy blogged on the Road Trip commercial and the fans loved it! How could they not though, really?

5. The ATP is the next NBA? Yikes.

6. Luke Jensen came to Montana and I totally missed it. Damn, and he could have yelled loudly into my face instead of the TV screen, I'm so sorry I didn't get that real-life experience.

7. Venus supposedly hits the hardest ball in women's tennis - well, at least at last week's Acura. But what I don't understand is that if you're taking the hardest hit shot from a category of six or so, how does that warrant the hardest average? I smell system flaw.

8. Kim Clijsters hasn't updated her web site in two weeks! Someone call the authorities! Well, she could be trying to get pregnant...or saving puppies from the streets of Belgium. No worries, Kim fans, her book is still slated for publishing.

9. The ATP is getting so awkward that they hosted a fashion show to kick off Canada this week.

10. Madison Brengle won her first match in LA as a wild card. Up next? Dementieva or Makarova. Hmmm...

Baby City

Lindsay Davenport had her baby just seven weeks ago and is already itching to get back on the tennis court. I had the opportunity to write a news feature on Davenport and her comeback on TENNIS.com. You can find it here.

Meanwhile, my sister Annie keeps sending me adorable pictures of her newborn, Samantha Ann, so I can't resist putting another shot of SAM up. She's 9 days old today.


Keeping with the baby theme, tennis balls are always amusing to children in one way or another. I'm not sure about this video here, where the little boy is inundated with a box of tennis balls bouncing down the stairs. He seems to enjoy himself though. Future tennis champion?