Third seed Lindsay Davenport won her fourth WTA Tour title of the year and second in as many weeks defeating top seed Serena Williams 6-1, 6-3 to capture the $585 000 hardcourt event on Sunday.
Davenport denied Williams on all six break-point chances she managed, half of them in the final game, to capture her fourth Los Angeles title and a $93 000 top prize in her eighth finals appearance in the event.
Davenport, who won last week at Stanford, has surprised herself with the back-to-back titles.
”It’s unbelievable,” she said. ”I never quite thought this would happen.”
Williams had beaten Davenport in their four prior meetings over the past three years, but could not overcome 29 unforced errors.
Davenport made only 12 and just one of those in the first set.
”One unforced error for me in a set is like a miracle,” Davenport said.
Serving for the match, Davenport saved three break points on errant shots by Williams before finally cracking through on her first match point chance when Williams netted a backhand.
”I was really solid,” Davenport said. ”I didn’t know what to expect from Serena. She gave me a lot of errors but I thought I was able to make some good serves and run down some balls.
”She has the best serve in women’s tennis. Today I was able to get my racket on the ball and assert myself on the second serve.”
Williams, who won $49 500, was unhappy with her effort but respectful of Davenport’s impressive performance.
”I didn’t play the way I wanted to but all credit to Lindsay,” Williams said. ”She played a great match.”
Davenport beat Williams’ sister Venus in a three-set thriller final last week. Davenport advanced here in the semifinal when Venus Williams retired in the second set with an injured right wrist.
”I had some break points at the end. I never felt nervous or panicked,” Davenport said. ”I think the win last week gave me confidence.”
Davenport will play next week at San Diego, then take three weeks off before the US Open. – Sapa-AFP