Lindsay Davenport began Saturday seeking to defend her Pilot Pen title but ended the day not knowing if she would be able to play the U.S.Open. Davenport retired from the Pilot Pen final with an injured right shoulder, allowing Justine Henin-Hardenne to take the title in the last hard-court tuneup before the year's last Grand Slam tournament, which starts Monday.
"Rest is going to help no matter what. Of course, with the U.S. Open less than 48 hours from beginning, this is not where I want to be," Davenport said. "I certainly can't play if it's like it was today.
Both Davenport and Henin-Hardenne entered New Haven after long layoffs because of injuries and it was the 24-year-old Belgian that picked up the momentum heading into the U.S Open. Henin-Hardenne needed only 22 minutes to win the first set 6-0. Between sets Davenport called for a trainer and took a medical timeout. When she returned, Davenport lost her serve in the first game of the second set and was in obvious pain. She met Henin-Hardenne at the net and shook hands, and the longtime favorite drew an ovation from the crowd.
"I could feel from the beginning of the match she wasn't hitting the ball as usual," Henin-Hardenne said. "I did what I had to do. It's not easy in this kind of situation, but I stayed focused on every points."Henin-Hardenne, the second-seeded player and wild-card entry, drew a first-round bye, but Davenport had to work her way to the title match from the first round. She won all four matches in straight sets, including against top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo.
"I just hope I can keep going this way," Henin-Hardenne said. "I've been very consistent." And most importantly, she said, she's having fun. "I enjoy my tennis," she said. "That's probably why things have gone so well these last few months."
In the men's final, Russian Nikolay Davydenko warmed up for the U.S. Open in the best possible manner as he beat Argentine 10th seed Agustin Calleri 6-4 6-3 to win the New Haven event on Saturday.
The second seed broke once in the first set and twice in the second as he wrapped up victory in one hour, 21 minutes. The win gave Davydenko his third title of the year, but his first on hard courts.
Davydenko has never been beyond the third round at the U.S. Open but said the victory was a big boost to his confidence going into the final grand slam tournament of the year.
"For my mind, to win the tournament here, I felt good already from the first round so I hope I play good (at the U.S. Open). Davydenko said.Calleri rued a few missed chances to break in the first set. "I had three or four break points, but he served very well, he didn't give me a chance to break him. He just played very well on the important points." Calleri said.
"Obviously I would have loved to win the tournament. On the other hand, I felt very good here."
