Lindsay Davenport
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Lindsay Davenport advanced to the semifinals of the ASB Classic on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Italy’s Sara Errani.
Davenport is 16-1 in singles since she returned to the tour after the birth of her first child. She is closing in on a third title in the first four tournaments of her comeback.
She beat the unseeded Errani in 57 minutes, hitting 40 winners in 18 games. She stymied her Italian opponent with seven aces.
"I started off a little slow," Davenport said. "She’s a tough opponent coming up and she’s going to be good.
"I just haven’t played much tennis in the past year and I have a few aches and pains in my body. My arm was a bit sore today but hopefully it will all hang together for another couple of days."
Davenport will face 17-year-old Austrian Tamira Paszek, the No. 6 seed, in the semifinals Friday. Paszek advanced with a 6-1, 6-3 win over second-seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia.
"I didn’t see much of her game today because it was over pretty quickly, but she looks a good player," Davenport said.
"I’m just looking forward to getting out there, playing a good game and seeing what the future of women’s tennis is like."
Paszek was too strong for Kirilenko, continuing an impressive start to the 2008 season.
"I had my rhythm today, played very aggressive, didn’t miss too many shots and I was very consistent," Paszek said.
New Zealand wild card Marina Erakovic, ranked 153rd, upset top-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (5).
Zvonareva was angered by a series of line calls and lost her composure.
In the third-set tiebreaker, when a fortunate bounce gave Erakovic a point and a 6-5 lead. She clinched the match on the next service point.
"That net cord was a freak of nature really," Erakovic said. "I really don’t know what to say. Call it luck, you’ve got to have some."
The win put Erakovic into the semifinal of a WTA event for the first time, and in her hometown.
"I’m really trying to remember the match. It’s really blurry," she said. "She got a bit upset with some line calls and I took advantage."
Source: Davenport still rolling at ASB Classic
