Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK -- She clenched her fist on big points, raised her arms in triumph and broke into a wide smile.
After Lindsay Davenport's 6-4, 6-4 fourth-round win against No.7 seed Patty Schnyder at the U.S. Open on Monday afternoon, the American veteran even returned briefly to the center of Louis Armstrong Stadium to give the partisan crowd an extra wave of acknowledgement.
Has the business-like Davenport suddenly found her inner Andre?
Not quite, but the 1998 champion from Southern California is showing an unplugged side that she rarely displays.
"I will say this is the most, like, fun and relaxed I've ever (been) at a Grand Slam," says the 10th-seeded Davenport, who began the year at No.1 but has seen her ranking drop and returned to the tour last month after a four-month absence.
Like Andre Agassi, who concluded his career Sunday, Davenport enters this U.S. Open with an impressive string of appearances, a season undermined by a bad back and the prospect that each match could be her last in New York.
At 30, she is the oldest player left in the draw and publicly contemplated quitting in the summer of 2004.
"I promise you if someone had asked me at Wimbledon, I would have laughed that I would even be able to play here," says Davenport, who injured her back in March and then suffered a concussion when she blacked out and fell at her home in June.
"She's trying to enjoy it more," says her coach and hitting partner, Adam Peterson.
The 6-21/2 Davenport can't imagine going through the kind of emotion roller coaster Agassi experienced during his very public and planned retirement.
"He is one of a kind," she says.
Besides, the shy Laguna Beach, Calif., resident, who attended her high school prom and is one of the few married players on tour, never made crowd connection her forte.
"I could never do that," Davenport says. "I'm not that courageous."
Still, Davenport has found fans warming up to her more than ever as she approaches the end.
"I feel like the older I've gotten, the more they've gotten behind me," says Davenport, whose seeding is her lowest in New York since 1995.
Her career stats are reason enough for fan adulation.
Since turning pro in 1993, Davenport has compiled some impressive numbers.
She owns three Grand Slam singles titles, has ended the year ranked No.1 four times, is ninth all time in tour singles titles (51) and seventh in wins (710). She is playing her 16th consecutive U.S. Open, second among active players to Amy Frazier (20).
To bask in more late-coming crowd admiration, Davenport will have to get by No. 2 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne in a quarterfinal tonight. The 2003 champion dominated Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-0 on Monday.
Davenport trails Henin-Har-denne 6-5 in career meetings and has lost their last six matches, including the final of a hardcourt tuneup last month in New Haven, Conn., when Davenport retired with a right arm injury. She fell to Henin-Hardenne in the quarterfinals of January's Australian Open.
"Justine is the biggest obstacle for me," Davenport says, "and it happens to be in the quarterfinals."
Peterson says the key for Davenport is to take charge of points and get in the match early. "She can't back down or (Henin-Hardenne) will take it to you," Peterson says.
To see more of USAToday.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.usatoday.com
© Copyright 2006 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
