Davenport Quietly Goes About Winning in Return

WIMBLEDON, England, June 24 -- Lindsay Davenport didn't shriek, toss her wristbands or pump a single celebratory fist after finally subduing the world's 110th-ranked female tennis player, Renata Voracova of the Czech Republic, to advance to Wimbledon's second round.

By then, more than two hours after she walked onto Court 2, Davenport had long given up sprinting after balls that skimmed the sidelines, ceding the point whenever a burst of lateral movement was required.

She was working on 32-year-old knees, for one -- knees that already had carried her 6-foot-3 frame through 12 Wimbledons, including the 1999 championship and runner-up finishes in 2000 and 2005. And ever since the pain in her right knee had flared during Tuesday's second set, all she hoped to do was keep the points as short as possible.

On this day -- the day Davenport played her first Wimbledon match in three years -- it was enough. And with enormous grit and absolutely no fanfare, the former world No. 1 eked out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory and the right to play on in the tournament she holds most dear.

"It's a real treat, a real honor and privilege," she said afterward, marveling at the thrill of competing once again at Wimbledon. She didn't think she'd be back, quite honestly, after being sidelined by injuries for most of 2006 and taking an indefinite leave from tennis during her pregnancy. She gave birth to her first child, a son, Jagger, in June 2007. How much further Davenport's knee will take her at Wimbledon is unclear.

She sailed through the first six months of her return to tennis, winning the tour's Comeback Player of the Year Award for 2007. She won the first two tournaments of 2008, in Auckland and Memphis. But she tweaked her knee while practicing on grass a few weeks ago.

An MRI exam showed no structural damage, clearing her to compete at Wimbledon. But the pain got so bad midway through Tuesday's match that she summoned a trainer who wrapped nearly the entire leg with bandages, save for an opening around the kneecap.

Davenport indulged in no theatrics, refusing to use the medical timeout to prey on the crowd's sympathy or parry with her opponent's psyche. She simply got taped and went on with the match in a manner as straightforward as her tennis.

"As every athlete goes through, you always have your injuries," said Davenport, who served 12 aces in the victory. "Especially when you're older and have played for a long time, they seem to creep up more."

As for what's next, Davenport isn't looking far ahead. Her timetable is different now that she is slowing down and her precocious 1-year-old is speeding up.

"You've got to kind of stay in the present," she said. "For me, right now it's about getting my knee better to play again Thursday. So it would be impossible for me to speculate. For right now, it's Wimbledon. I'm here, and I'm just kind of focusing on that."

Largely Disappointing

Convention holds that big servers (typically the tallest players on the men's tour) have an enormous edge on Wimbledon's grass courts. But two of the biggest boomers were bounced in the first round. Monday saw the exit of 6-10 Ivo Karlovic, who lost in four sets despite 23 aces. On Tuesday, 6-9 John Isner was sent packing despite blasting 32 aces. . . .

Last year, Emmanuel Church of England, which is located near the center of the tiny village of Wimbledon, drew headlines for proclaiming on its front-lawn message board, "God Created Roger Federer." This year the church has posted a new message: "Jesus served better than Andy and attracted more people than Maria."