Davenport beats Seles for Los Angeles title

Second seed Lindsay Davenport continued her dominance over a tired Monica Seles by beating her American rival 6-3 7-5 in 67 minutes on Sunday to capture the $565,000 Los Angeles women's Classic.

Davenport had struggled with mental sharpness and left wrist tendinitis during the week, until regaining her best form with a straight-set thrashing of France's Nathalie Tauziat in the semifinals.

The local favourite then went on to claim her third title here on the Manhattan Country Club hardcourts.

After taking the opener, Davenport dropped serve to fall 2-1 behind, but quickly got the break back in the next game.

She then staked out a 6-5 lead in the second set before breaking Seles's serve to take the title when her opponent committed her fourth double fault on match point.

"Overall, I'm happy with the way I've played the last two days compared to earlier in the week," said Davenport, who claimed the $90,000 winner's cheque with her ninth win in 11 career decisions -- including the last nine -- against Seles.

"My game is erratic and a lot of times with my tennis that's the way it happens. Maybe I struggle a few matches, and if I get through them I get better as the week goes on.

"But it's nice to end on a roll and win a tournament and to beat great players along the way."

Davenport, who will climb a notch to number two in the world rankings behind Swiss star Martina Hingis when the WTA rankings are released Monday, blended blistering ground strokes with eight timely aces to stop the run of the three-time champion here.

Seles, who was playing her third straight tournament since a five-month layoff due to a right foot stress reaction, ended an exhausting three-week run but it took its toll despite encouragement from 5,229 fans.

After three tiring three-set victories over tenth seed Sandrine Testud, fourth seed and two-time defending champion Serena Williams, and Hingis for the second time in as many weeks, Seles failed at the final hurdle for the second straight week.

Last Sunday she went down to Wimbledon champion and defending Acura Classic title holder Venus Williams in San Diego.

"It's been a great week," said Seles, who will move up to two spots to number eight in the world rankings on Monday. "I've had a lot of tough matches, and it's been fantastic to fight through and get to the finals.

"Now I have one more week to go (at Toronto) and then I'll try and get a little bit of rest before the U.S. Open."

Despite the gruelling schedule, Seles refused to use it as an excuse. "Not at all. That's irrelevant," she said of the fatigue factor. "I was a bit tired but she was the better player out there."

Davenport was happy to win the title in straight sets.

"She's been pulling some matches out and I wanted to win it in two sets," Davenport said. "She did not serve well today and that was the tone of the match.

"It probably should have gone to a tiebreaker and who knows what would have happened? But I'll take the double fault."