Revolution Stalls As Serena And Davenport Fly Star-spangled Banner
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday January 27, 2005
In 2004, the Russians were coming, with three of the four majors taken by their countrywomen. However, on form, the first grand slam of the new year might have a more familiar star-spangled look.
Maria Sharapova is the sole Russian in the final four but on what we have seen to date, the Wimbledon champion is not quite as comfortable on sun-soaked Rebound Ace as she was in the cooler climes and quicker courts of the All England club. Sharapova will play Serena Williams today in a rematch of the Wimbledon final, when the starlet shocked Serena and became instantly marketable. But this time, the American seems in better touch, and so it would be something of a surprise, if not as stunning as Wimbledon for the 17-year-old to upset Serena a second time in a slam.And Serena would be upset. She has not taken kindly to the talk that she and sister Venus are spiralling down women's tennis. "No, we are not declining, we are here," said a tetchy Serena. "I don't have to win this tournament to prove anything. I know that I am out here and I know that I am one of the best players out here." The other semi-final looks more clear cut. While Lindsay Davenport has not had grand slam success since the 2000 Australian Open, the cards - and seeds - are falling in her favour. She could scarcely have ordered a semi more favourable than a meeting with Nathalie Dechy, the 19th seed who has never been this far or beaten the American in five attempts.Davenport was surprised that the Frenchwoman was in the last four. "If someone had said when the tournament first started, 'yes' [she would be surprised to see Dechy]... I played her in Sydney last week and we had actually a great match, close two sets," Davenport said.Dechy advanced to her first grand slam semi-final with a 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 victory over Patty Schnyder, in their quarter-final yesterday.
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald