Remembering last year's early wake-up call, we were relieved to see
that there was no 9:00 AM final this year. The women's final began at
the relatively civilized hour of 12:00 noon, followed by the men's final.
In both finals, the world number one made an emphatic statement.
Justine Henin-Hardenne (1) def. Lindsay Davenport (3), 6-1, 6-4
Women?s final
Previous head-to-head: Davenport leads 5-2
To see Justine Henin-Hardenne and Lindsay Davenport in the women?s final was not surprising, since both have had strong early seasons. Both world number one Henin and two-time Indian Wells champ Davenport had lost only one match this year, and since Davenport?s loss had come to Henin (in the Australian Open quarterfinals) this was a chance to see if Davenport?s fine play this week had drawn her closer to Henin?s level. As it turned out, Henin showed that she is still a cut above.
First set
A very crisp start for Henin, who came out firing, as she had planned to do. ?The beginning of the match was important for me just to let her know that I was there." Henin converted her first break point by approaching the net to Davenport?s backhand and following up with a forehand volley. Davenport did manage to hold in game three, but the solid Henin won the remaining games of the set to draw first blood, 6-1
Henin did almost nothing wrong. She was moving well, tracking down Davenport?s heavy shots, and using smart angles to make her slow-footed opponent run. The only problem for Henin was her poor 30% first serve percentage. But this was not hurting her because she outclassed Davenport in every other department. Her 15 winners to just 6 unforced errors tell the story about Henin?s quality of play.
Second set
Henin came down from her cloud in the opening game with three unforced errors, and Davenport won her first service break. When Lindsay consolidated with an ace to take a 2-0 lead, her home-state crowd roared its approval. But Davenport could not stand the prosperity, and lost the break at 3-2. In this game, at 30-30 Henin uncorked a picturesque crosscourt pass with her storied one-handed backhand. Davenport saved the break point, forcing a deuce with a serve-volley point. But Davenport gave away two strai
ght points, pulling a backhand wide and pushing a forehand approach long, and the set was back even.
The next game, 3-3, was crucial. Henin was still a little shaky, and sent a backhand long to fall behind 15-40. But Justine fought back with strong serving and net play to save the game, and gave a fist pump/?Allez!? when she sent down a strong serve to win game point. ?That was really important,? said Justine of this crucial hold.
At 4-5, with Davenport serving, Henin stepped up the pressure and began firing her entire arsenal at the American in a fascinating 7-deuce game. At 15-15 the Belgian uncorked an extraordinary running backhand lob that landed just inside the baseline. At 40-30, Henin forced deuce with another lob over Davenport?s backhand. Davenport had a game point after the first deuce, but double-faulted. Then Henin forced the first of a series of match points by drop-shotting her slow opponent. Henin then brought about
a second match point by keeping a deuce point alive with some speedy retrieving, and Davenport finally pushed a forehand wide. Here is the play-by-play of the remainder of the final game:
- Match point #2: Henin could not handle a strong Davenport forehand.
- Deuce #4: Another Henin drop shot. Davenport gets to it and feathers a tough reply, but Henin is ready for it and lobs the tall American.
- Match point #3: another strong serve set up a winner at the net by Davenport.
- Deuce #5: Service winner
- Advantage Davenport: Davenport wastes a second game point on an overhit forehand.
- Match point #4: Again Davenport sends in a strong serve. Henin has a good look at the return this time, but the backhand is just wide.
- Deuce #6: A strong backhand return forces a Davenport error.
- Match point #5: Henin finally finishes off the match, following up a good return with a clean forehand winner.
The happy Pacific Life Open champion raises her arms and gives her coach Carlos Rodriguez and fitness trainer Pat Etcheberry two thumbs up.
The ever-popular trophy presentation
Davenport came out first to a strong ovation to accept the cheque and whale trophy. For those who are curious, the whale depicted on the trophies handed out at the Pacific Life Open has a name: ?Pacific Promise?. After congratulating Henin on an ?unbelievable tournament?, she mentioned the baked spectators, ?I want to thank you guys for staying out to watch us. It?s hot!?
Davenport told the crowd that this event was her ?favourite tournament to play?, and that?s not just because it?s close to home. She and her husband Jon Leach ?had our first date here four years ago, so it?s a special place for us.?
Then the champion was called forward, to applause that seemed a bit subdued. After holding up the trophy and taking the cheque, she congratulated Davenport on her fine tournament. Henin told the fans she was pleased to win here: ?It?s the first time I ever played well in the desert.? She then had a special mention for her coach Carlos Rodriguez, ?who?s supporting me for eight years?, her fitness guru Pat Etcheberry (who has been here throughout the tournament), ?and my husband, who?s at home.? The husband
, Pierre-Yves, will be flying to the USA tomorrow and will join up with Justine at her training base in Saddlebrook, Florida.
Post mortem
Lindsay Davenport had no hesitation about saying that she ?lost to a far better player.? ?She was controlling the rallies, moving me around, and doing everything really well.? There?s not an awful lot more to be said.
Lindsay had waltzed through her previous matches without losing a set, but it should be noted that her highest-ranked previous opponent had been #26 Meghann Shaughnessy. Today?s final showed the gulf between Davenport, whose already sluggish movement seems to be even more problematic since her foot surgery, and the elite players. ?I can?t really do much about it except go home and keep working on the things I need to work on. Give it my best next time.?
Henin has taken some criticism for skipping the upcoming Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami, but guess what? Davenport said today that she is passing on Miami too. ?I?m not real fond of the conditions. You don?t have a lot of time to get used to them if you so well here. It?s quite humid, so windy there.? Davenport will take two weeks off and resume the tour for the clay court event at Amelia Island, the week after Miami.
As for our winner, Justine Henin-Hardenne was clearly pleased that she followed the game plan and stepped up her level when the situation called for it. ?I did everything I had to. I was aggressive when I had to. I moved Lindsay a lot, I know she doesn?t like it too much.? She was also happy to prove that she could play well in the California desert, where she had never gotten past the fourth round in two previous tries. ?I?m a different player,? she said. ?I?m a better player. A better person. I?ve chan
ged a lot.?
Henin has often given her fitness coach Pat Etcheberry credit for her improved strength and stamina, but it was interesting to hear her crediting Etcheberry for helping her mental game. ?He helps me a lot, just believe in myself, believe in me physically and mentally.? The last words of the world?s top-ranked woman may have been a little jumbled in order, but were nonetheless eloquent in demonstrating her self-belief.
?I know impossible is nothing for me now,? said the steely-eyed champion, looking like she meant every word.
Roger Federer (1) def. Tim Henman (9), 6-3, 6-3
Men?s final
Previous head-to-head: Henman leads 6-1
In his rise to world number one, Roger Federer has not only been winning titles, he?s been settling scores. In his run to the Masters Cup title in November, he defeated opponents such as Andre Agassi and David Nalbandian, who had had Roger?s number in the past. At the Australian Open in January, the Swiss avenged a painful Davis Cup loss to Lleyton Hewitt. Today Roger took on a man who had defeated him 6 times out of 7, and inflicted the only defeat Roger has suffered this year.
Federer added Henman to his list of former nemeses today, and did so brilliantly. It was a command performance on a par with Federer?s demolition of Andy Roddick at last year?s Wimbledon, or his destruction of Agassi at the Masters Cup.
First set
Federer picked up the only break he needed with Henman serving at 1-2. At 15-15, Henman makes a drop volley that looks good enough to win the point. But Federer turns on the speed, runs it down, and flicks a cross-court forehand winner. At 15-30, Federer cracked a forehand passing shot crosscourt. Henman saved one break point, but on the second Henman is forced to try a tough stretch volley off a Federer passing shot, and it fails to clear the net.
With Federer serving brilliantly, Henman never had a look at breaking back. Overall in the match, Federer served with a 60% first serve percentage, winning 85% of his first serve points. Henman explained the difficulty of facing Federer when he is serving well. ?It?s not like a Roddick serve, but his variation is so good. He?s looking for the weak reply? I think in our previous matches he hasn?t served so well.?
Second set
More of the same! If Henman stayed back, Federer?s potent baseline game was superior. If Tim came in, Roger?s brilliant shotmaking placed him in constant danger.
Federer registered an early break in game 3, Henman double-faulting at 15-40. On Henman?s serve at 2-4, Federer set up another break point with a magical shot, an astonishing cross-court angled backhand pass that Roger virtually half-volleyed with his back to the net. Henman went on to save the break point and win the game, but wow!
Serving to stay the match at 3-5, Henman finally succumbed to the inevitable. At 15-15, Federer spanks a forehand winner. At 15-30, Henman dumps a volley into the net. On match point, Henman looks to chip and charge, but his approach shot finds the net. Make the final: 6-3, 6-3 -- a bravura display from the best player in men?s tennis.
The ever-popular trophy presentation
Henman gave Federer his due in accepting the runner-up cheque. ?Roger came into this week as world number one, and he?s proved it.? He then thanked the lines judges and ball kids. ?You do a great job in this heat. It?s hot!?
Federer then accepted the second Masters Series trophy of his career, after Hamburg in 2002. ?This tournament is one of the biggest ones in the world,? Roger told the crowd. ?So it?s really, really nice.? The coachless Federer went on to thank the only member of his support team, his girlfriend Mirka. ?My support is just my girlfriend this week, but in Miami a few more people are coming.? Maybe a new coach? Nah, who needs a coach!
Post mortem
Tim Henman took his thrashing bravely. ?I?m not too disappointed,? said the Englishman, and we actually believed him. ?I didn?t perhaps play my best, but I certainly wasn?t allowed to.?
Coming back strongly as Henman has after his shoulder problems of a year ago, Henman is now where he belongs in the top ten. At age 29, he feels he is playing his best tennis ever, and believes that there is still room for improvement. ?If I keep making these improvements, as I know I will,? said Gentleman Tim, ?these weeks are going to become the norm, and I?d like to try to take this type of tennis into the biggest events, at the slams.?
Roger Federer?s toughest test today may have come at the hands of the dean of American tennis journalism, Bud Collins. Roger kept the reporters waiting for close to 30 minutes, and he was duly admonished by Bud. Chastened, Federer promised he would be quicker next time. It should be said that Federer has an excellent reputation for being accommodating with the media, and there were obviously no hard feelings, since Collins went to Federer after the press conference to congratulate him and they had
their picture taken together.
Federer is on such a cloud at the moment that he would not have been disappointed had he flopped here. "I don?t see it like, you know, if I don?t win, or if I would lose here in the second round, that then everything has broken down,? said our deserving champion. ?I?m really enjoying the moment right now.?
Farewell to the desert
As the sun set over the mountains, we left the site for the last time, casting a glance at Roger Federer as he posed in front of a mountain backdrop with his trophy. Looking back at the past two weeks, we recalled some of the memorable moments of the past two weeks.