Capriati Shakes Off Past, Dementieva

Everyone knew why Lindsay Davenport didn’t play at Indian Wells last year.

The crutches told her story.

It wasn’t as straightforward with Jennifer Capriati. Her problem with Indian Wells was more about location, location, location. Her reason for skipping the tournament last year and in 2001 had nothing to do with physical ailments; it was some mysterious, undisclosed personal reason.

Finally, Capriati put the past in the past, ready to place the unhappy memories of her former life in Southern California in storage for good, saying she has a “fresh head.”

“I’m a different person, different player now,” she said. “It’s one of the biggest tournaments. Usually maybe I don’t play as well in this part of the country. But I feel like I’m getting a good rhythm here.”

The second-seeded Capriati dropped her first set in three matches but finished strongly, defeating No. 14 Elena Dementieva, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, on Monday in the fourth round as she took advantage of the Russian’s slow-paced second serve.

What made the difference, apparently, are two Australian Open titles and a French Open championship.

“I’m older, have experience under my belt,” Capriati said. “Last time I played here, I didn’t have a couple Grand Slams. This time I do. Whatever things about this place that bothered me before, I think I can get past that and I’m more of a mature person to not let any place dictate where I’m going.”

There was a common thread linking the first four quarterfinalists at the Pacific Life Open -- none played this event last year. The fourth-seeded Davenport was recovering from knee surgery, No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo of France opted to skip the American hard-court outdoor tournaments to get ready for the clay-court season and Vera Zvonareva of Russia had yet to make her debut in a Grand Slam event.

Davenport and Mauresmo, who will meet in the quarterfinals, had the easier route in their fourth-round matches. Mauresmo beat Magui Serna of Spain, 6-2, 6-3, and Davenport defeated No. 13 Elena Bovina of Russia, 6-4, 6-3, in 66 minutes, serving five aces.

The three previous matches between Davenport and the 19-year-old Bovina had gone three sets, and this one appeared to be unfolding along similar lines -- hard hitting with short points.

In the first set, Bovina broke in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead but Davenport fought back, breaking serve in the next game.

“I’ve had problems with my lapses in concentration, kind of closing things out when I’m up,” Davenport said. “Today was really great. I was able to just keep going in a semi-routine manner.”

Of the four quarterfinalists, Zvonareva had the toughest time, which has been her pattern at Indian Wells. The 18-year-old went three sets for the third consecutive match, taking out Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Zvonareva and Capriati will play in a quarterfinal. The remaining four quarterfinalists are to be determined today.