0
NEW HAVEN (Connecticut), Aug 24: Jennifer Capriati claimed her first title since last year’s Australian Open when top seed Lindsay Davenport was forced to retire from the Pilot Pen final on Saturday with a left foot injury.
Davenport, who had been bidding for her first New Haven crown after three final defeats to Venus Williams, was trailing 6-2 4-0 when she decided to stop.
For most of this season, former world number one Davenport has been troubled by an inflamed nerve between two toes and she now plans to undergo surgery after the U.S. Open, which starts on Monday.
Paradorn, Blake in final
LONG ISLAND (New York): Top seed and defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand cruised into the final of the TD Waterhouse Cup on Saturday, needing just 57 minutes to dispose of Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer 6-0 6-2.
Paradorn dominated his opponent with superior shot-making ability as he moved on to Sunday’s final against American James Blake, who crushed seventh seed Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco 6-3 6-1.
Blake didn’t take much longer than Paradorn — winning his match in just 59 minutes — as both players appear to be well rested and confident heading into the final of the last warm-up event for the U.S. Open.
Semifinal results from the $380,000 TD Waterhouse Cup on Saturday (prefix number denotes seeding): 1-Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) beat Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 6-0 6-2 James Blake (U.S.) beat 7-Younes El Aynaoui (Morocco) 6-3 6-1 — Reuters
