Davenport wins Bali International

Lindsay Davenport [Images] won her fourth title of the year on Sunday when she defeated Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the Bali International.

Top seeded Davenport, who also won in Dubai, Amelia Island and New Haven, did not drop a set all week. The victory earned her $35,000, but not enough points to regain the number one ranking she conceded following the US Open [Images].

"I'm satisfied," said Davenport. "It's tough sometimes to play four weeks in a row and still to come out on top.

"I've played a lot of matches the last few weeks and I felt this whole week was a success. It's not always easy to win when you're expected to win. I felt I handled that very well this week."

Fourth seeded Schiavone, who was seeking her first career title after reaching finals in Tashkent and Canberra, was always in the match but produced no real threat.

Davenport made a perfect start by breaking Schiavone in the opening game, coming in to put away a double-handed backhand winner when the Italian hit short.

Schiavone, a crowd favourite after the tenacity and character she had shown all week, was loudly cheered after she fought back from 0-40 to hold serve in the fifth game, forcing an error from Davenport at the end of a long rally.

The American then had to stave off two break points in the next game, but eventually held with an ace and then broke again for 5-2 when Schiavone made a backhand error.

Davenport also broke in the opening game of the second set, but Schiavone continued to offer a challenge and was rewarded with a break for 2-2.

Davenport might have regained the advantage in the next game but hit a poor return on break point, and she had to wait until the match was delicately poised at 4-4 to make her vital breakthrough.

Schiavone typically attempted an outrageous dropshot that fell just wide to give Davenport break point, and then netted a forehand after Davenport had stretched her wide in the rally.

Even so, Schiavone refused to concede, holding a break point as Davenport served for the match but netting a return.

The Italian said: "In the second set I tried to serve better and to do better with my return and make her play what she doesn't want.

"I tried to run faster, but it's not easy when she hits the ball with such good timing."

© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.