ANDY'S WIN DENIES FEDERER TOP SPOT

Can Davenport pull a Roddick and stop Clijsters' No. 1 bid?

By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Siggi Bucher

FROM THE JP MORGAN CHASE OPEN IN LA – For a guy who has yet to win a Grand Slam or a Masters Series tournament, Andy Roddick has to be pleased that he has had as many accolades piled on him as LeBron James.

But Roddick stepped up to the plate in a big way Saturday when he took out the man who had stepped on him at Wimbledon, Roger Federer, and prevented him from taking over the No. 1 ranking.

Now Roddick's older countrywoman, Lindsay Davenport, is in a similar position when she'll have chance to stop Belgian Kim Clijsters bid at taking over the top spot from Serena Williams when the two meet in the final of the JP Morgan Chase Open in Los Angeles Sunday.

Roddick was so focused and tough against Federer that when down a break in the third set, he hit a half-volley from between his legs while rushing to the net for a winner. The tide turned, he broke Federer back and played a much sounder tiebreaker.

"I guess it was just reaction. It was either that or get hit in the nuts," said Roddick. "That definitely took the edge off, it was kind of fun."

Neither Clijsters nor Davenport have had much fun during the past week. Last Sunday, Clijsters' countrywoman, Justine Henin-Hardenne, faced her down in a three-set victory in the Acura Classic final in Carlsbad, Calif. After the match the two engaged in a war of words over whether Henin was faking an injury time-out. Clijsters said she suspected she was, Henin-Hardenne said that Clijsters was just being a sore loser and now no Belgian tennis official wants to get anywhere near the Fed cup locker room.

KIM STOMPED ALL OVER LINDSAY IN CARLSBAD

Siggi Bucher

For her part, Davenport was devastated in the Acura by Clijsters, who made her look slow and powerless. Fox Sports analyst Tracy Austin noted Davenport was giving up on way too many balls and commented on how terrible her body language was at times. Davenport concurred that she needs to look much more positive against Clijsters, who will take her frowns and paint the lines with them.
Davenport hasn't beaten a top-four player this year and has lost five out of her last six matches to Clijsters. But she's a three-time Grand Slam champion and is playing in her home area tournament. She certainly doesn't want to be embarrassed.

"She's a very tough opponent to play," said Davenport. "She's improved her serve a lot the last six months. She's a very aggressive a player but also plays great defense I'm going to have to get on top of the points early or she has the ability to put me on the run a lot."

Roddick had never beaten Federer before. If he's to go into the US Open as one of the serious favorites, he needs more wins like these and a title like the Tennis Masters Series Montreal, which will be his if he brings his "A' game out and bests David Nalbandian in the final.

Roddick is maturing under new coach Brad Gilbert and is a much more directed player. He sports a 23-2 record since he joined forces with Gilbert, but is still lacking a big title.

"I don't feel like I'm playing hot, I feel like I'm pretty solid. I come out knowing what I'm going to get from myself on a daily basis, and I haven't had that feeling before," Roddick said.

NO. 1 WITHOUT A SLAM?
Clijsters knows what she needs to do on a daily basis and, on Sunday, she needs to take care of business against Davenport. Should she beat Davenport, she'll become the first female player to attain the No. 1 ranking without winning a Grand Slam title since the WTA Tour introduced the ranking system in 1975. That is not an accolade anyone wants, but Serena is injured and Clijsters admirably keeps racing along. The 20-year-old Belgian is facing a big test, winning a match she's supposed to when the pressure is relentless.

"If that would happen, that would be great and will motivate more tomorrow," said Clijsters, who has reached at least the semifinals of all 16 tournaments she has played this year and has won six titles. "I've had a great year so far and made it until another final. I know I'll have to play my best tennis to get there and to have that nice feeling after the match. If I focus on that first, the second part will come."

While Clijsters has had a good year by anyone's standards, it hasn't been a fantastic one. She has lost a number of big matches to elite players, including to Serena in the semis of the Australian Open when she choked a big lead, to Henin-Hardenne in the Roland Garros final, and to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semifinals.

Her mental toughness is very much in question, even if she doesn't think so.

"I don't think if I wasn't mentally tough I would be in the position I am in now," she said. "My year has been incredible and a lot of that has to do with mental strength. The year has been long and you have to stay fresh out there. I've never been in a position this year when I didn't care about a match. That's always challenging."

Davenport will certainly challenge her in the final, as will her own mental demons. Davenport has won only one title this year and isn't ready to concede elite status to every notable player but herself. Maybe she'll take one of Clijsters' blasts to her chest, knock off a winner and turn the match around, just like Roddick did against Federer. Or maybe she won't.

"I'd really like a win over a player ranked higher than me, sooner or later,' she said.