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."
TOUGH TEST
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 their 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 she ran out of steam against Farina Elia, whose greater fitness proved crucial.
"I think both of us were tired and this was the key for the match today because I was in better condition and able to recover more quickly between the points," Farina Elia said.
"I really didn't expect this. I came here in really good shape -- I took a month off after Dubai, didn't play on hard courts, so I could be ready for the claycourt season.
"This is my second Tier II final but with so many good players I saw the draw but didn't look too far.
"I have to hope that it's not Lindsay's best day in the final, but I don't have to think about things too much as there's not much pressure on me."
© 2024 Rediff.com -