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Page 3
Did nerves play a factor in the final? Surprisingly not! Lindsay did a good job of hiding any nerves if she did have any. She was in complete control of the match and actually played her best service game when serving for the championship, striking two aces and a number of good unreturnable serves. Serving for the championship, I couldn't help but wonder whether she could falter just as Martina Hingis did against Graf just a number of weeks ago. One thing that I also noted was that Davenport could more easily get back to the task at hand than Hingis could in her final. Example: A ball struck by Lindsay was called out, but the call was later overruled by the umpire. However, despite the fact that Graf had no play on the ball, the umpire called for a let and asked for the point to be replayed. This clearly frustrated Davenport but she merely got back to the task at hand, and won that game on serve. Let us remember Hingis's final when she got an unfair call by the umpire. Of course, Martina's petulance got in the way of her professionalism and actually walked over to Steffi's end of the court to complain about the line call. It is Lindsay's calmness in big situations which may ultimately lead her to many more Grand Slam title victories, and let's hope that many more titles can befall her in what is sure to be a long and successful career. Lindsay Davenport wins her second career Grand Slam championship, her first at Wimbledon and her 22nd singles title overall. Her singles win at the All England Club pockets her US$655,200, levelling her at third behind Hingis and Graf on the prize money leaders this year. Of course, by winning the championship, Davenport regains the world #1 ranking from Hingis which she had earlier conceded in February this year.
She will long be remembered as a champion in the years to come. Perhaps she will even take the mantle as the greatest tennis player of all time. However you will remember her in the future, maybe you are indeed seeing the last of the champion doing what she does best - playing competitive tennis. It is evident that Steffi is at the beginning of the end. She is in the first few stages of her farewell from the tour. We were all shocked to learn after her inspiring run at the French Open that she would not return to the scene of her greatest triumph to defend her title next year. So it was not a huge shock to learn that, following the Wimbledon final, Steffi had also called it quits at the All England Club for good. It is sad for the game of tennis that a champion player like Steffi Graf is evidently calling it quits from the tennis tour. She is scheduled to play a number of tournaments on the American hardcourt tour, but is unconfirmed as to whether she will participate at the US Open. Thus, we are resigned to believe that this will most likely be Steffi's last year of professional tennis. While it is sad and disappointing, especially because she leaves behind a LOT of fans, because she is playing some of the most inspiring tennis of her life, and because she is finally enjoying the game away from nagging injuries and personal problems, we must also be happy that Steffi is going out of the game this way, and not the way we all thought she would go out two years ago. It is great that she can leave the game on a high note, having won a Grand Slam championship in her final season and returning to the top of the women's game after all these years at #3, still playing well and competing hard.
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