Revenge for Davenport as she wins Swiss crown
American Lindsay Davenport has clinched her fourth Swiss Open title by defeating local tennis star Patty Schnyder, who beat her in the 2002 final.
The 7-6, 6-3 victory in Zurich on Sunday assures Davenport’s return to the top spot in the women’s tennis rankings.
It was the American’s sixth title of the season and her third victory in six weeks after Bali and Filderstadt.
Schnyder tried hard to repeat her triumph against Davenport three years ago and forced her into a tiebreak in the first set. Switzerland’s number one had three set points but could not convert them.
The 27-year-old Swiss also led 3-1 in the second set before the top-seeded Californian overpowered her.
Schnyder said she was disappointed she had not been able to capitalise on her set points in the first set.
“But Lindsay played an excellent game and she was definitely better over the two sets.” she added.
Davenport said she always expected tough matches in Zurich.
“It was a really up and down match, but I finally felt at the end I was a little more consistent, a little more aggressive.”
2002 victory
In 2002 Schnyder defeated the 29-year-old American in the final of the Swiss Open, but has now lost eight times against her.
It was the fourth time Davenport had won Switzerland’s main women’s tournament since 1997.
In her six appearances at the Swiss Open she has never failed to reach the final. Her only defeats were by Switzerland’s Martina Hingis in 2000 and Schnyder in 2002.
Despite her defeat in Sunday’s final, Schnyder will move up one place to number nine in the WTA rankings.
The rise in the rankings will help her in her bid to qualify for the end-of-season Masters tournament in Los Angeles.
swissinfo with agencies
Basel-born Patty Schnyder has been a professional tennis player since 1994.
The 27-year-old Swiss is the ninth in the WTA rankings.
So far the Swiss number one has won nine tournaments as a professional, including the Swiss Open in 2002.
Davenport defeated Schnyder 7-6, 6-3 at the Swiss Open in Zurich.
The €1.08 million (SFr1.7 million) tournament is the only major WTA event in Switzerland.
For the first time in its 21-year history the tournament took place in Zurich.
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