Davenport Versus Venus `Once Again`

Will Davenport make it back to the Wimbledon the stage for her revival?

Lindsay Davenport (25, USA), a star women tennis player, had to go through the hard time in the early season of this year. She had troubled with all kinds of vicious rumors for four months during her rest due to the knee injury. It has been rumored that her career as a tennis player was terminated due to the severe injury, or that she has not been focusing on tennis falling in love with somebody. Even her retirement was explored despite she is at the height of her game. Moreover, she has been agonizing over Corina Morariu, her best friend as well as her doubles partner, who suffered through leukemia.

However, Davenport became the third consecutive semifinalist in the Wimbledon Championship blowing away the worries that surrounded her.

In the 1999 Wimbledon champion the third seeded Davenport defeated French Open Runner-up Kim Clijsters (Belgium) of the 7-seed 2-0 (6-1, 6-2) just within 48 minutes in the women`s single quarterfinals of the Wimbledon Championships, which is being held at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Davenport, who is the tallest woman player (1m 89) among the participants, shut out Clijsters with the strong services and the ground strokes allowing only three games. With this win, Davenport continued the march to the fifth consecutive victory without losing a set, showing her best ability.

Davenport will compete with the second-seeded Venus Williams who won over the ninth seeded player, Nathalie Tauziat (France) 2-0 (7-5, 6-1) to reach the final game. Last year, Davenport had failed to defend the championship, defeated by Williams 0-2 in the final. Davenport, trying to revenge last year`s loss, said that ``I think I got stronger than before during the rest. Because I have played as I wanted to do, there will be no problem``.

Justine Henin, the 19-year-old Belgian who has burst into the spotlight over the past few months joined the semi-finalists winning over the 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez 2-0 (6-1, 6-0). Henin is supposed to face in the semifinals Jennifer Capriati (USA) who is trying to win the third consecutive major champion.

Tim Henman, the hope of his homeland England, defeated Todd Martin through the five-set struggles 3-2 (6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2) in the fourth round. The quarterfinalist Henman will meet Roger Federer (Swiss) who knocked out Pete Sampras (USA).

Kim Jong-Seok kjs0123@donga.com