Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells (March 14, 2003)
by Ed Toombs
Lindsay Davenport (4) def. Jennifer Capriati (2), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Semifinal
Previous head-to-head: Davenport leads 7-2The women?s tournament had been rather lacklustre until today, but it was redeemed by a cracking good match between Davenport and Capriati. This was the first heavyweight tilt on the distaff side, and the encounter lived up to expectations and then some.
Davenport took the match to Capriati from the outset, crushing the ball with great pace but also with depth and accuracy. Capriati stayed in most points, but was often playing a more defensive game than she would have preferred. Typical of many of the rallies was the 4-4, 30-40 point that gave Davenport her opening in the first set. Dominated in the rally, Capriati was forced to hit a forehand off her back foot and drove it into the net. With the break in hand, Davenport confidently served out the set with a 110 mph ace on her set point to take a 6-4 lead. Lindsay?s domination was reflected by the winners stats, which favoured her by 16 to 6.
By the second set Jennifer seemed to have adjusted somewhat to Lindsay?s furious pace. She began to extend rallies longer and play deeper, forcing Davenport into tougher shots that she was now starting to miss. Capriati took an early 4-1 lead in this set, but Davenport raised the ante again and pulled even at 4-4. Then, serving to stay alive at 4-5, a couple of errors put Davenport in a 15-40 hole. Lindsay saved one set point with a strong forehand, but Jennifer came up with the goods on her second ch ance thanks to a vintage running crosscourt forehand passing shot. The crowd, most of which was backing native Californian Davenport tonight, gave Capriati her just due with a rousing ovation, and the match was level.
The first key moment of the gripping third set came on Davenport?s serve at 1-2. Lindsay made a clutch hold here, digging herself out of a 15-40 jam by coming up with four consecutive clean winners. Then, after an exchange of breaks and an exchange of holds, the turning point came at 4-4. Capriati was serving into the wind, which as both players noted after the match, was the tougher side of the court from which to hold serve. Two aggressive Davenport baseline points made it 0-30, then two Capriati err ors later (an overhit forehand and a backhand drive into the net), Davenport had the crucial break, and would now serve for the match.
But wait! Capriati calls for the trainer at the changeover, and trots off the court to get her upper left thigh bandaged. ?I guess it?s like a high hamstring strain,? explained Jennifer at her press conference. ?With it being chilly and everything, finally it gave way a little bit.? It was certainly a dubious moment of the match to call an injury time out, but Davenport denied that she had any suspicions of gamesmanship: ?I was okay with that.?
When play resumes, Davenport serves for the match from the dreaded into-the-wind side, and quickly falls behind in the score, 0-30. Davenport then plays two good attacking points, finishing them at the net, to make it 30-30. Then Capriati drills a forehand wide. Match point: Lindsay puts in her first serve and Jennifer sends her return long. After 2 hours, 7 minutes of excellent tennis, make the final: 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and the crowd salutes both players, especially the popular Davenport.
After the match Capriati did not seem especially disappointed at the loss. ?She played some unbelievable tennis,? Jennifer admitted. ?I feel like it was a good match. Definitely shouldn?t put my head down about it.? For her part, Davenport, who hit an eye-popping 50 winners tonight, was elated at her showing. ?I don?t think I?ve played at that level for a few months now, so that?s real exciting. It was a great win for me, there?s no doubt.?
Davenport?s bravura performance sets up what should be an excellent final against the top seed, Kim Clijsters. Clijsters played the game she had to play to subdue Spanish veteran Conchita Martínez (pictured at right) today, showing a nice balance of patience and well-timed aggression in a 6-3, 6-2 triumph.
Clijsters gave us this preview of the final: ?Lindsay is the type of player, if she?s on, who can play unbelievable. She can hit the ball so clean. Her weaker point is probably her movement still. You have to take advantage of that, and return well.? Conversely, Davenport knows that movement is one of Clijsters?s strongest assets. She also thinks there might be a weakness on the forehand side to exploit. ?But, you know, I?m just going to have to be ready to come in and try to take some balls out of the air, and not let her keep getting balls back.?
Rainer Schuettler (15) def. Andy Roddick (6), 6-3, 6-2
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Tied 1-1When Rainer Schuettler upset Andy Roddick in the Australian Open semifinals, many observers refused to give him full credit. Roddick was exhausted after his classic marathon win over Younes El Aynaoui, they said, and also had an injured wrist. Schuettler had a point to prove, and did so with a comprehensive win over Roddick today, but rest assured that injuries to Roddick will once again be evoked.
Roddick may have won the fast serving exhibition -- he hit back-to-back 147 mph first serves late in the first set -- but Schuettler decisively won the tennis match. Limiting his unforced errors to just 14, scoring with backhands down the line, frustrating the American by getting first serves back in play, using his excellent speed to run down Andy?s forehand blasts, and taking excellent care of his own service games? it was a controlled and intelligent display by the German today.
On the other side of the coin, Roddick at times did not seem to be all there on the court, and managed just 11 winners, compared to 28 unforced errors. While Roddick gave Schuettler due credit for the win, he claimed he was not 100% fit this week because of the sequels of a sprained ankle suffered last week in Delray Beach. ?I wasn?t able to do much fitness off the court and stuff. I don?t think I came here in the best of shape by any means.?
Rainer Schuettler, full value for the win today, confirms his excellent early season form with his first career Masters Series semifinal. His semifinal opponent was determined by the first match in the evening session? read on!
Gustavo Kuerten def. James Blake, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: First meetingNot much happened in the first set, as neither player was able to dent the other?s serve until Kuerten was serving at 4-5. Blake earned the first break point of the match, which also happened to be set point, set up by a costly double fault by Guga (the only double fault by either player in the set). A Kuerten shot hit the tape, giving Blake a short ball to attack. The Brazilian chipped a defensive lob wide, and Blake had the first set in the bag. The dreadlocked American was deserving of the lead, a s he seemed the more confident and incisive player to this point.
Guga appeared on the verge of serious trouble when he faced another break point at 1-2 of the second set. He saved it with an ace, and skipped excitedly back to the service line. This ace may have been the turning point of the match, because, after Kuerten held serve, things began to unravel for Blake. At 2-2 of the second James produced his first sloppy service game, and was broken at 30-40 when he dumped a backhand volley into the net. From this point on, Guga got on a roll. Kuerten broke again at 4 -2 on a successful 30-30 return-volley point, followed by a cross-court winner on break point. There was a hiccup at 5-2 when the Brazilian failed to serve out the set, but on his second chance at 5-4 he made no mistake, nailing a splendid forehand pass on his first set point.
In the third set the Kuerten train was unstoppable, and Blake seemed strangely resigned to his role as passenger. Kuerten closed out the match with a bagel, much to his delight and the joy of his expressive longtime coach Larri Passos.
As the match turned in his favour, Kuerten began celebrating winners with yells and fist pumps, even late in the third set bagel. Blake did not seem too pleased about this, or at the very least was perplexed. ?Yeah, he was really pumped up, which I didn?t understand. You know, he?s won three French Opens. For him to get that fired up to get the third break in a third set in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells, I didn?t understand.? But Blake took pains to add, ?That definitely helped him. Looked like he got excited and definitely started playing better. Can?t fault him for that.?
From Guga?s point of view, the overtly emotional displays could be explained by his ability to turn a tense match in his favour, and reach his most important semifinal since his hip surgery last spring. ?It was nice to see myself in this situation, playing against a great player, you know, fighting back after losing a first set, feeling the energy come around, showing my emotions again.?
The normally gregarious Blake was extremely glum in his press conference. Wearing a woollen cap, James berated himself for his performance. ?I actually didn?t feel like I played that great in the first set to win it,? confessed Blake. ?He got into the match, started playing better. I never picked up my game.? But Blake at least sees a positive in his expectations that he can win matches against players like Kuerten. ?As I?m getting better and better, the losses hurt more and more because they?re for something important, you know, a semifinal berth in a Masters Series,? said Blake, finally finding a silver lining. ?That means I?m getting close.?
Kuerten thinks something may have clicked for him in the California desert. He has felt sharp here since he stepped on the Indian Wells practice courts late last week, and has managed to carry the good feelings onto the court. ?My level of tennis, of confidence, physical condition, everything, I think just went a big step up for me.?
Guga will face one of the in-form players in these early months of the season, Schuettler, tomorrow for a spot in the final. As the Brazilian said, it is a big test for both. ?He?s in another level. I?m coming to my best again. So probably a match to enjoy a lot from both sides, you know, two guys very hungry to get a place in the final.? Schuettler also anticipates a tough match. ?Guga was number one in the world. I mean, he?s coming back. He was injured for a long time, and he?s playing great te nnis as well right now,? observed the speedy German. ?Hopefully I will leave the court as a winner, but it will be hard work.?
Hewitt and Spadea book semifinal berths
The two quarterfinals in the rather weird top half of the men?s draw featured the Australian top seed and three American qualifiers. The top seed, defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, eased past one of the qualifiers, Robbie Ginepri, 6-4, 6-2. A welcome cruise for Hewitt after his arduous three-set wins over Younes El Aynaoui and Guillermo Coria, and an improvement for young Ginepri, who was double-bagelled by Hewitt last summer.
In the all-qualifier quarterfinal, Vince Spadea put an end to unsung Brian Vahaly?s fantasy week with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph. Tomorrow, Hewitt and Spadea will contest a berth in the men?s final.
Quotable quotesKim Clijsters, who is a fanatic about natural foods, revealed she has been trying to improve the eating habits of her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt, who occasionally likes to indulge in hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries. ?He?s a lot better. I?ve sort of gotten him to the good way of eating a little bit healthier.? Apprised of these comments, Hewitt initially expressed dismay at Kim?s revelations. ?I can?t believe she dobbed me in, I?m actually not that bad!?. The Australian number one the n confessed that while Clijsters has had an influence on his diet, he still likes to indulge in some junk food during his weeks off the tour. ?I love to go to the footy and have a hot dog and chips, mate.?
Vince Spadea today gave much of the credit for his recent improvement to coaching he has been receiving from Pete Fisher, the man who was the early mentor of Pete Sampras. ?He?s brought so much to my game. He?s improved my serve tremendously. He?s improved my mental outlook, my strategy. Even the things I did well -- my forehand, my backhand -- I feel I have improved.? Fisher is something of a pariah in the tennis world since being convicted of child molestation several years ago. For Spadea, the baggage Fisher carries is not an issue. ?We have a professional relationship and after, we go our separate ways and continue to live.?