Football
19y

Tennis-Holder Davenport thrashes Petrova to reach Florida final

By Simon Cambers

AMELIA ISLAND, Florida, April 9 - World number one
Lindsay Davenport stormed into the final of the Amelia Island
Championship on Saturday with a 6-0 6-3 demolition of Russian
Nadia Petrova.

The champion hammered 29 winners and held off a rally from
Petrova in the second set to set up a final against Italian 12th
seed Silvia Farina Elia, a 6-1 6-3 winner over Frenchwoman
Virginie Razzano.

Seventh seed Petrova, who was forced to play two matches on
Friday to reach the last four of the rain-hampered event, looked
jaded in the breezy conditions and Davenport showed no mercy.
The 28-year-old American captured the first set in just 17
minutes.

Davenport, looking for her third Amelia Island title, was
pushed harder in the second but broke Petrova in the seventh and
ninth games to clinch victory.

"I knew she was coming off two tough matches yesterday and
that she could possibly be a little fatigued," Davenport said.

"Yesterday (losing the first set 6-1 to Venus Williams) was
a big wake-up call, so I wanted to get off to a better start
today.

"I could see that she was a little bit more flat-footed than
normal and I was just trying to keep her on the run."

Despite winning six of her seven matches against Farina
Elia, Davenport expects a tough test on Sunday.

"The one time I lost to her was actually on grass, which you
probably wouldn't call," she said.

"But on this surface, I definitely have to be most focused
and I can't take anything for granted.

"Of all the players I've played this week, I think Silvia is
probably the person that will get most balls back and she has a
very deceptive backhand.

"My goal is to not to let her have any opportunity to play
her game."

Petrova admitted her exploits on Friday had taken its toll.

"It took a lot out of me. Playing two matches against
similar opponents, I had to run a lot and today the biggest
reason (for the loss) was myself," said the Russian.

"She started really well, and I was a fraction late on
everything and against someone like Lindsay you can't do that."

Farina Elia, who reached the last four when Serena Williams
retired from their quarter-final with a sprained ankle, dictated
play right from the start in her semi-final against Razzano.

Two breaks gave her a 3-0 lead and she wrapped up the first
set in under 30 minutes.

Razzano had beaten fourth seed Alicia Molik and sixth seed
Vera Zvonareva to reach the last four but her tenacity ran out
against Farina Elia.

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