NEW HAVEN (Connecticut), Aug 20: Top seed Lindsay Davenport sped into the quarterfinals of the Pilot Pen event on Tuesday, needing just 43 minutes to overwhelm Jelena Dokic 6-2 6-1 in the final tournament before the U.S. Open.

The American, who has finished runner-up to Venus Williams in this event three times, played an almost flawless first set, conceding just two points on serve and firing three aces in the final game.

Although Davenport faced a little more pressure in the second, holding off a break point at 0-1, she broke her Yugoslav opponent to lead 2-1 and closed out the second round match by giving up just three points in the final three games.

Heavy groundstrokes and a powerful serve that produced nine aces always gave Davenport the upper hand, and although Dokic often traded well in baseline rallies she could not produce the consistency or strength of her opponent.

With Serena Williams missing from the U.S. Open, Davenport believes that the field for the final grand slam of the year is wide open.

In another second round match, Anna Pistolesi of Israel staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Russia’s Vera Zvonareva.

Down a set and 5-1, she rallied to win 0-6 7-6 6-2.

A recent winner at tournaments in Poland and Finland, Pistolesi lifted her game when on the brink of defeat and then took advantage of her opponent’s increasing frustration, eventually reducing her to tears.

At the end of the battle Zvonareva collapsed on the baseline in despair as Pistolesi walked round the net to shake hands and embrace her.

Pistolesi also recovered from 4-6 3-5 to beat Jelena Kostanic in the Helsinki final 10 days ago.

In first round matches, Magdalena Maleeva recovered from a dismal opening set to beat Thai qualifier Tamarine Tanasugarn 5-7 6-4 6-4 and Russian Elena Dementieva fought through hot and humid conditions to beat Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia 6-2 6-4.

Maleeva struggled to keep the ball in play in the first set, and Tamarine took full advantage, pressuring the Bulgarian with some powerful service returns.

Maleeva broke serve to take a 4-3 lead in the second set and althought Tamarine levelled at 4-4, a well-executed dropshot gave Maleeva a second break and she served out for the set.

The Thai then found herself 4-1 down in the final set before staging some late resistance.

She held a break point to level at 5-5 as Maleeva served for the match, but the sixth seed forced an error and then closed out the match.

Results: (x denotes seeded player):

First round: Magdalena Maleeva (BUL x6) bt Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; Elena Dementieva (RUS) bt Silvia Farina Elia (ITA) 6-2, 6-4

Second round: Lindsay Davenport (USA x1) bt Jelena Dokic (SEM) 6-2, 6-1; Anna Pistolesi (ISR) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 0-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.

PARADORN IN 2ND ROUND (New York): Defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan eased into the second round of the TD Waterhouse Cup with a 6-3 6-4 win over Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko on Tuesday.