Day Six of the Bank of the West Classic
by Michelle Chuang
Day Six
Morning Session
Lindsay Davenport vs. Amy Frazier
Lindsay came into the match not too happy with her last two matches. Amy Frazier’s last three matches
have been really impressive. Their head to head record is Davenport 5-0 with their last meeting in
Madrid with Davenport cruising 6-0, 6-2. Davenport felt like she needed to serve well since she
thought that Frazier had a good return of serve. The first set was just a blow out for Lindsay 6-0. Amy
came out looking uncomfortable and hitting too many unforced errors. She didn’t look nearly as sharp
as she was in her last three matches, but obviously her opponent being Davenport had a lot to do with
that. It looked like Frazier was going to get demolished when Lindsay went up 5-1 in the second set.
The only game that Frazier won was when she held for 1-2. At that point, Frazier had all crowd support
because they paid good money to be there , and they wanted the match to be prolonged. Frazier served
up a second serve ace to hold for 2-5. Then in front of a surprised crowd, Frazier broke Lindsay’s serve
at love for 3-5. Lindsay served impeccably throughout the match. Whenever it looked like she was in a
little trouble in her service game, Lindsay would just hit a service winner. Amy saved a match point to
hold 4-5 with a great cross-line forehand passing shot. On Lindsay’s service game, Amy could only
save one more match point before falling to the #1 player in the world 6-0, 6-4. After the match,
Lindsay seemed to be very happy with her performance except for that brief lapse in the second set.
She says that she would prefer to play the best player to win the title, so she is counting on Venus to
beat Coetzer later tonight in the other semifinal match. A 1998 Bank of the West rematch final looks to
be in place with Lindsay and Venus again, but the "Little Assassin" (Coetzer) probably has other
ideas.
Other Morning Session Match
Davenport/ Morariu defeated Fernandez/ Raymond 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
This match was a fun match with four friends playing with/against each other. It was highly
competitive also, and it produced some very good points. I was surprised that Davenport was trying so
hard since she does have that noon singles final tomorrow. Davenport looks to be striving as the leader
of the doubles team. She will be looking for her fourth straight Bank of the West Classic doubles title
tomorrow with Morariu.
Evening Session
Venus Williams vs. Amanda Coetzer
Coetzer fought and struggled through the tournament to reach the semifinals. Venus, on the other hand,
had a fairly easy time in both her matches. She was "practicing" in the second set of her second round
match against Strebotnik. Venus and Amanda’s head to head record wasn’t something Coetzer could
use as confidence since she is 0-3 against Venus without taking a set. After two gutsy matches where
Coetzer faced a match point against each opponent, one would wonder if she had anymore miracles left
in her. One thing is for sure though- playing against Coetzer is no picnic. Her opponents cannot let up
at any point in the match because Coetzer will take advantage. Venus looked unbeatable in her match
against Kournikova last night, so there was definitely a tough task ahead for Coetzer. Venus got off to
her usual quick start. Coetzer looked helpless. She seemed like just some person out there holding a
tennis racquet. Venus was that good in the first set. Amanda came out with a game plan which was to
mix things up. The problem was that her backhand slice kept sitting up, and Venus would just crush it
for a winner. Venus stomped on Coetzer like a bug to take the first set easily 6-1. The second set
started out badly for Coetzer also. After Venus broke her in the first game, fans pleaded with Coetzer
to, "Pump it up." The turnaround began at 4-1 when Venus broke Amanda for the second time of the
set. Venus seemed to be having a temporary lapse in the second set much like her previous matches.
She called it having, "too much fun," in her post match press conference. Back to the match, Coetzer
broke Venus for 2-4. I don’t think anyone really ever thought Coetzer could pull it out, but she held for
3-4 then she went on to break Venus again for 4-4. Then Venus just picked up her game to break
Amanda for 5-4. Amanda had her chance to break back, but she failed to convert. The match ended
when Coetzer hit a backhand into the net. Final score 6-1, 6-4. Venus was extremely confusing in her
press conference. She seems to always contradict everything she says. Nevertheless, tomorrow should
be a very interesting final.
Other Evening Session Score
Kournikova/ Likhovtseva defeated Coetzer/Po 6-2, 6-1
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Last updated 26 September 2015
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