Davenport Keeps It in Perspective

Doubles awards ceremonies are usually notable for being shoehorned into an inconvenient time slot. That, and the hope that the official handing out the trophies can correctly pronounce the players’ names.

Sometimes, something unexpected breaks the mold. This happened less than two months ago at the Australian Open, representing what is best about the sport: friendship, sacrifice and mutual respect.

Lindsay Davenport wanted it to be a happy moment. Though she and partner Corina Morariu lost in the final to Alicia Molik and Svetlana Kuznetsova, Davenport acknowledged Morariu, telling the crowd about their last appearance in the final in 2001 in Australia and learning several months later that Morariu was stricken with leukemia.

There were tears all around. Molik hugged Morariu and joked that Kleenex should come on board as a sponsor. During the match, Davenport had noted how amazing it was that they were playing in the final again, and Morariu grew emotional, according to Davenport.

“Afterward, it all came out,” Davenport said. “I don’t think a lot of people know everything she went through and how hard it was to come back. How hard she’s even had to work beyond leukemia, shoulder surgery and almost knee surgery. It was draining going through it. And so important.

“I thought about it the night before: I’ve got to say something.... I certainly didn’t mean to make it more sad, because we were actually really happy.”

The Australian Open was notable in Davenport’s long career, which she discussed recently in an interview at her home in Laguna Beach. She reached her first Grand Slam singles final in five years, losing in three sets to Serena Williams, dropping the last nine games.

Battle fatigue had taken its toll. Though Davenport had difficult three-set singles matches in the quarterfinals and the semifinals, she never considered pulling out of doubles.

“I got so tired and run-down at the end. It was almost a bummer, almost wished I had lost in the quarters,” Davenport said.

She thought about it and laughed, saying: “Not true.... Everything was hurting.”

Williams took an injury timeout in the first set, leaving the court for several minutes. Davenport, though she won the opening set, said she stiffened up. Finally, the needle hit empty.

“I never felt like I had one ounce of energy to run for a ball,” Davenport said. “It’s unbelievable and totally bad luck to happen in a Grand Slam final. I’ve never felt like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’ve got to go lay down.’ I was more relieved when the match was over. I didn’t have to stand out there and fake it anymore.”

Perhaps it is perspective, but the loss hardly haunted Davenport. She pushed through and reached the final in Tokyo a week later, losing in three sets to Maria Sharapova, then returned home. Last week, Davenport won the title in Dubai in a field including Serena and Venus Williams.

Now, it turns back to where it all started for Davenport: Indian Wells. This is where she turned professional in 1993, making the decision on her own and not telling her parents.

Davenport, Amelie Mauresmo of France and Sharapova of Russia are the top three seeded players in the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which starts with first-round matches today.

The event has taken a hit beyond the absence of the Williams sisters, who haven’t played in the event since 2001.

Only five of the top 10 in the world are in the draw.

Not entered are defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium, French Open champion Anastasia Myskina of Russia, and Molik, of Australia. Two other top players withdrew in the last week. Vera Zvonareva of Russia pulled out before Monday’s draw because of illness, and Jennifer Capriati continues to recover from shoulder surgery.

Davenport will play the winner of the first-round match between wild card Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria and Marlene Weingartner of Germany. She is in the same half of the draw as Sharapova.

Whether it is her final appearance at the Pacific Life Open is debatable. There were rumors in Australia she would retire after Indian Wells, but the 28-year-old Davenport said the speculation was incorrect.

“I’m 100% playing Amelia Island, Charleston, Fed Cup and made plans to rent the house at Wimbledon. We just put the deposit down,” she said. “At this stage in my mind, I’m totally focused to go through the U.S. Open -- whatever happens after that, I have no idea, I can only take it in little chunks.

“I’ve made plans with my trainer. I would never train through December to play two or three tournaments. It’d be a great story.”

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Tennis Facts

* What: Pacific Life Open.

* When: Today-March 20 (women’s final on March 19, men’s final on March 20).

* Where: Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

* Seedings: Women -- 1. Lindsay Davenport, 2. Amelie Mauresmo, 3. Maria Sharapova, 4. Elena Dementieva, 5. Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6. Nadia Petrova, 7. Nathalie Dechy, 8. Elena Bovina; Men -- 1. Roger Federer, 2. Lleyton Hewitt, 3. Andy Roddick, 4. Marat Safin, 5. Guillermo Cora, 6. Tim Henman, 7. Carlos Moya, 8. Gaston Gaudio.

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TODAY’S FEATURED MATCHES

Stadium Court, starting not before noon.

* Marissa Irvin vs. Laura Granville

* Kim Clijsters, Belgium, vs. Nicole Pratt, Australia

* Anca Barna, Germany, vs. Jamea Jackson

* Kristina Brandi, Puerto Rico, vs. Mariana Diaz-Oliva, Argentina