THE SCOOP: US Open, DAY 12

Davenport, Capriati's Slam chances dwindle
Russia soars again behind Kuznetsova, Dementieva

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Ron Cioffi/TR.net

American washout: Russians beat for Davenport and Capriati.

FROM THE US OPEN – If Thursday was a dark day for American men's tennis with Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick's desultory defeats, what was Friday after Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati went down in the US Open semifinals to Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva, a solar eclipse?

Davenport was described as uncomfortably numb in the locker room after her loss. Capriati balled for a half-hour.

Lindsay likely would have won the contest had she not injured her hip during her morning practice, but could barely move in th third set and fell 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 to Kuznetsova. An ultra-aggressive Elena Dementieva simply out hit a defensive Capriati 6-0, 2-6, 7-6 (5).

That means there are no Americans in either the men's semis or women's final, another first since 1986. That means that Davenport will very likely end her career without a second US Open title and that Capriati likely will end hers without winning one. So much for destiny.

"Maybe there's no such thing," Capriati said.

WILL LINDSAY RETIRE?
Davenport is thinking much the same. The favorite coming into the Open after winning four US summer hardcourt tournaments, Davenport's body failed her once again. She's had three years of hell physically and even when she did all she could to keep herself healthy this summer – including hiring a full-time trainer – her big frame seized up. There's more than a fair chance now that the 28-year-old Davenport will retire at year's end. Her husband, Jon Leach, wants her home more and she is tired of fighting the not-so-good fight against Father Time.

"I hope to be here next year, but I don't know," said Davenport. "I'm disappointed. I was playing really well and I'm bummed out, that it was entirely up to me. Things have been going so well I was thinking, 'Maybe it's going to keep going well.' But eventually, my body couldn't handle it."

Capriati didn't choke against Dementieva, but sure could have played more aggressively at crunch time. The suddenly fearless Dementieva smoked 44 winners to only 15 from Capriati and won 30 of her 44 net approaches. She flat out dominated with her forehand. In her fourth appearance in a US semifinal, Capriati served for the match at 6-5 in the third set, but the Russian jumped on her, even though she did double fault at break point. In the tiebreak, Dementieva scalded five winners, including a gorgeous backhand down the line winner on match point.

"I knew she was a fighter. I knew she wouldn't give up," Capriati said. "She's not in the semis for nothing. But the whole time I had confidence I was going to win. I felt when I came back I had the edge."

The US Open is the third straight Grand Slam, which will feature a Russian. It's the second time in history that there will be an all-Russian final and for the third major in a row, there will be Russian winner. If she plays to form, the 23-year-old Dementieva should be the one holding up the trophy. Maybe then the folks in Ashe Stadium will stop laughing at loud at her serve. "It would mean everything," she said. "That's what I've been dreaming of and working on all these years."