Davenport Wins WTA New Haven, Murray Lets Loose on Wimbledon

Posted on August 28, 2005

Blake Faces F-Lo in ATP New Haven Final

Unseeded James Blake continues to look like a force entering next week's US Open, Saturday at the ATP stop in New Haven outlasting Romania's Victor Hanescu 7-6(4), 6-7(3), 6-1 to advance into the final.

"I am just so happy to be playing and now that it is going well and I feel like I'm healthy," Blake said. "I feel like things are starting to go my way, it's such a good feeling."

In the championship match the American will square off against No. 5-seeded Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who defeated No. 3-seeded countryman Dave Ferrer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Blake will try to add to his lone career title at 2002 in Washington, and Lopez to his lone win in Vienna last year.

It will be the first meeting between Blake and F-Lo.

The doubles final will be Americans (WC) Ram/Reynolds vs. Argentines Etlis/Rodriguez.

Davenport Masters Mauresmo for WTA New Haven Title

Lindsay Davenport, who will regain the world No. 1 mantle on Monday, made it an amazing nine in a row over Amelie Mauresmo Saturday, defeating the Frenchwoman 6-4, 6-4 to win her third title of the season.

"I'm a little happy and amazed to be sitting here winning," said Davenport, returning from a back injury. "There are a lot of things I'd like to improve on before the US Open but it's so satisfying to win the title. I was always struggling in the final. After all these years, I'm happy to finally pull it out."

Mauresmo played the final on the heels of her three-set semi on Friday in hot conditions.

"I think I recovered well physically, but she just played a bit better than me today," Mauresmo said. "Two things she did better than me today -- serving and returning. That's what the difference was. 6-4 6-4 is close but not close enough."

For Davenport in was her first New Haven title in her fifth final.

"I'm very happy to be here winning the title," Davenport said. "No matter how much experience or how long you have played you never really know what to expect after coming back from an injury. I really wanted to come in here and kind of test my back and play matches and see how everything held up."

Unseeded Safarova Stuns Mirza in WTA Forest Hills Final

Unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova stunned No. 3 seed Sania Mirza from a set down 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to win her second career title and second of 2005 Saturday at the WTA stop in Forest Hills.

"Sania played a really good first set," Safarova said. "I improved in the second set and played to win. My strategy was to keep her running from side to side and push her -- not to be pushed. I am looking forward to the US Open."

It was the first career hardcourt title for Safarova after winning her first title on clay earlier this year at Estoril.

It was the first meeting between Mirza and Safarova.

The only WTA event with a 16-player draw, Forest Hills also had no doubles.

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
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