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Davenport to face Petrova for US Open quarter-final spot
New York, Dec 30: Third seed Lindsay Davenport and 19th-rated Russian Nadia Petrova advanced to a fourth-round matchup at the US Open with lopsided triumphs here.
New York, Dec 30: Third seed Lindsay Davenport and 19th-rated Russian Nadia Petrova advanced to a fourth-round matchup at the US Open with lopsided triumphs here.
Davenport, the only former US Open champion in the field, needed just 42 minutes to dispatch Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-0, 6-2 while 14th seed Amanda Coetzer of South Africa lasted 65 minutes before Petrova advanced 6-0, 6-1.
Also into the round of 16 was Russia's 36th-ranked Elena Likhovtseva, who beat 37th-rated Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. Venus and Serena Williams, who each have won two of the past four US Open singles crowns, are out with injuries. That opens the door to a Grand Slam title to several women, including 27-year-old American Davenport.
There was no sign of the nagging left foot injury that forced Davenport to pull out of a WTA final a week ago, although she knows she will have to elevate her game now that she has reached the round of 16.
"I think I'm ready to go," Davenport said. "I'm happy. I've been able to get through. Now I'm going to have to raise it up a level. I'm going have to get past my foot and I think I can do that."
Despite her seeding, Davenport refused to put herself among the title favorites, reserving that status for world number one Kim Clijsters, second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne and three-time Slam winner Jennifer Capriati.
Bureau Report
Davenport, the only former US Open champion in the field, needed just 42 minutes to dispatch Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-0, 6-2 while 14th seed Amanda Coetzer of South Africa lasted 65 minutes before Petrova advanced 6-0, 6-1.
Also into the round of 16 was Russia's 36th-ranked Elena Likhovtseva, who beat 37th-rated Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. Venus and Serena Williams, who each have won two of the past four US Open singles crowns, are out with injuries. That opens the door to a Grand Slam title to several women, including 27-year-old American Davenport.
There was no sign of the nagging left foot injury that forced Davenport to pull out of a WTA final a week ago, although she knows she will have to elevate her game now that she has reached the round of 16.
"I think I'm ready to go," Davenport said. "I'm happy. I've been able to get through. Now I'm going to have to raise it up a level. I'm going have to get past my foot and I think I can do that."
Despite her seeding, Davenport refused to put herself among the title favorites, reserving that status for world number one Kim Clijsters, second seed Justine Henin-Hardenne and three-time Slam winner Jennifer Capriati.
Bureau Report