LA JOLLA, California: Former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport could not recall a more one-sided loss after being outplayed 6-1, 7-5 by German teenager Sabine Lisicki in a Fed Cup world group first-round tie on Saturday.
Lindsay Davenport of the United States, reaches out for a backhand shot during her match against Germany's Sabine Lisicki in the quarterfinals of the Fed Cup tennis tournament held at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club in San Diego, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. [Agencies] |
Back in Fed Cup action for the first time in almost three years, Davenport struggled with her movement around the court and with her opponent's big serve as she lost the opening singles match of the two-day tie in 85 minutes.
"Obviously I'm disappointed with the way I went out there and played," the 31-year-old American told reporters after her run of 19 consecutive victories in Fed Cup singles matches was snapped by a player ranked 130th in the world.
"But at the same time, she played very well and that had a lot to do with it. I don't know what else to say.
"I'm going to try to work my best to come out there tomorrow and play a lot better and hopefully be a little bit more on top of my shots. I have a hard time remembering the last time that a match went so one-sided against me."
Davenport, who had previously won 25 of 27 singles matches in the team competition, was swept aside by the 18-year-old German in the opening set but led 5-2 in the second before the momentum again shifted.
"I never felt great all day," said the tall Californian, who made her Fed Cup debut in 1993 and has led her country to five finals and titles in 1996, 1999 and 2000.
"When I was up in the second, obviously I was playing a little bit better than in the first. But I still never felt like I was really connecting well with the ball and dictating as much as I'd like to be, or as much as I need to be.
Huge serve
"At the same time she was hitting a lot of great shots. Plus she has a huge serve and I had a really hard time reading it."
Despite losing for the first time in Fed Cup singles on a hardcourt surface and on home soil, Davenport's biggest blow was failing her teammates at La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
"I pride myself on having a good Fed Cup record," the former Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open champion said. "Typically it brings the best out in me and just it was so flat today.
"So I'm more disappointed in letting my team mates down than being in the States and losing it. Fed Cup means a lot to me, and I hope I'm able to perform better tomorrow."
Fan expectation had been high after Davenport had mounted a triumphant WTA Tour comeback following her return last September after an 11-month absence to have a baby. She clinched her 54th tour title at the Auckland Classic last month, her third tournament success in four attempts.
"I didn't know what to expect here, especially because it had been going so well," Davenport said of her comeback form.
"Today was just not a good day for me. I'm hoping that it's just a little setback and not a huge bump in the road."
