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 U.S. Open Notebook Despite lineage, Davenport spiked career in volleyball
Posted: Saturday September 12, 1998 05:14 PM
NEW YORK (AP) -- At 6-feet-2, it wouldn't be much of a surprise to have seen new U.S. Open women's champion Lindsay Davenport spiking a volleyball, especially after growing up in a volleyball family. Her father, Wink, was a member of the 1968 U.S. Olympic volleyball team. Her mother, Anne, is on the board of directors of the U.S. Volleyball Association. Older sisters Shannon and Leiann played volleyball for colleges in California. But growing up in Palos Verdes, Lindsay drifted to tennis, especially when her parents didn't want any rivalry between the sisters. So after a good performance in the USTA national championships in 1989, 12-year-old Lindsay was invited to Saddlebrook Resort where Jennifer Capriati practiced. Now Davenport is only the fourth American-born woman to win in the Open era, joining Tracy Austin, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King. Martina Navratilova won four U.S. titles after she became an American citizen in 1981. Grand Slam quartetDavenport was the fourth different women's winner of Grand Slam singles tournaments this year. Martina Hingis won the Australian Open, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario took the French and Jana Novotna won Wimbledon. It was the first time since 1990 that four different woman took the four majors and only the sixth time in the Open era. Different APPROACHES:Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport took different practice approaches prior to their final at the U.S. Open. Hingis warmed up with her mother, Melanie. A few courts away Davenport was working with her coach, Robert Van't Hof. Hingis' mother was a top tennis player in the former Czechoslovakia. Junior singles down to finalsA pair of Wimbledon junior champions will seek U.S. Open titles Sunday. Roger Federer of Switzerland, who won the Wimbledon boys singles and doubles crowns, beat Kristian Pless of Denmark, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the semifinals. Federer next takes on David Nanbandian of Argentina, who defeated Lovro Zovko of Croatia, 6-2, 6-2. For the girls, top-seeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia topped Evie Dominikovic of Australia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 for a championship berth. Srebotnik won the Wimbledon girls title this summer. Srebotnik meets Jelena Dokic of Australia, who defeated Tina Pisnik of Slovenia, 6-3, 6-1.
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