Davenport Returns Today at New Haven; Federer Vogues for Magazine

Posted on August 23, 2005

Jenkins, Gimelstob Lead Americans at ATP New Haven

The "C"-level American contingent provided the excitement on a seedless-orange day one at the ATP stop in New Haven Monday, with both Scoville Jenkins and Justin Gimelstob posting come-from-behind three-set wins to move into the second round.

"This is big," said Jenkins, firing 19 aces en route to his first tour win. "I'm excited but I can't be too excited because I have another match to go tomorrow."

Jenkins started nervously but got a foothold in the match after breaking in the second set before overcoming more nerves in the end.

"I feel comfortable because I've been waiting for this," Jenkins said. "I wasn't relaxed in those final games, but I have to get used to this. I have to realize now that I'm on a stage."

Americans on the losing end Monday were Bobby Reynolds, straight-setted by Austria's Stefan Koubek, and Kevin Kim, edged by David Sanguinetti of Italy.

"I haven't won too many matches so far (this year)," said Koubek who was suspended three months for a drug infraction and had a knee injury earlier this year, "but I qualified last week in Cincinnati and now in New Haven. Being in the main draw is great for me."

Other un-seeds into the second round were Romanian Victor Hanescu (d. Horna in three tiebreaks), Russian Igor Andreev (d. Monaco), France's Cyril Saulnier (d. Wawrinka), Czech Tomas Zib (d. Muller in three), Italy's Andrea Seppi (d. Tursunov from a set down), and Spain's Fernando Verdasco (d. Hernych, bagel in the first).

On court Tuesday in New Haven are Carlsen vs. Fabrice "The Original Magician" Santoro, Kohlschreiber vs. Fish, Llodra vs. (WC) Blake, (15) Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan vs. Saulnier, (9) "Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. Hanescu, (4) Robredo vs. Jenkins, A.Martin vs. Christophe "The Roach" Rochus, Marcos "Bombs Over" Baghdatis vs. Juan Ignacio "The Spitting Snake" Chela, (14) Soderling vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco, Ram vs. Ricardo Mello "Yello," (5) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. Sanguinetti, and in doubles the Chilean baseline-huggers Gonzalez/Massu get out the bug spray vs. "Team Roach" Rochus/Rochus.

Seeds 0-for-2 Monday at WTA New Haven

Two seeds were offered-up Monday at the WTA stop in New Haven, and two seeds were given some early down-time in their preparation for next week's US Open as American wildcard Meghann Shaughnessy ousted No. 9 Nathalie Dechy in three sets, and No. 10 Jelena Jankovic was outlasted in three by Russian Anna Chakvetadze.

Jankovic says her problem stems from a lack of confidence after switching coaches.

"I'm not playing at my best, I don't feel the ball well," Jankovic said. "I have a new coach and he's changing things in my game, so the shots feel so insecure at the moment. My first (match) with him I lost in Toronto and now here. And before that I was not playing bad. Since I started with the coach, I'm not feeling so confident."

Shaughnessy was happy to get one in the "W" column in her personal rivalry with Dechy.

"She's been the biggest nightmare for me. I've lost to her the most than any other player," Shaughnessy said. "But this time I changed tactics a little. I went more at her body instead of pulling her wide. And I served big."

While the seeds fell, the Russian "B"-squad players flourished with three into the second round in lucky loser Maria Kirilenko (d. Farina Elia), Elena Likhovtseva (d. Bartoli from a set down), and Vera Douchevina (d. (Q) Peng), who set up a meeting with countrywoman and two-time 2004 slam runner-up Elena Dementieva.

Other unseeded players through to the second round were qualifiers Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic (d. Golovin) and Jamea Jackson of the U.S. (d. Maleeva in three), and Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues (d. Razzano).

On tap for Tuesday in New Haven are Llagostera Vives vs. Hantuchova, Douchevina vs. Dementieva in an all-Russian, Davenport vs. Peschke, Kostanic vs. Groenefeld, Dulko vs. Medina Garrigues, and in doubles Molik/Morariu vs. Dechy/Mauresmo.

X-CORRECT
Roger Federer returned to action last week after a six-week layoff.

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