Davenport to meet Dokic in final

American Lindsay Davenport will meet fourth–seeded Jelena Dokic in the final of the $1.185 million Swisscom Challenge in Zurich after handing Jennifer Capriati her first loss as the world No 1, today.

Davenport, seeded third, defeated Capriati 6–1, 5–7, 6–2 to reach her fourth final in five tournaments.

The 18–year–old Dokic needed little time to end fifth–seeded Nathalie Tauziat's 16th and final appearance at the tournament, dispatching the French veteran 6–2, 6–2 in just 53 minutes to reach her second consecutive final.

Davenport has won all three of her previous matches against Dokic. The last time the two met was at Wimbledon in the round of 16, where the American prevailed 7–5, 6–4.

"She hits big and her serve is probably one of the best in the game," Dokic said of Davenport. "I'll just go out there and try to play the best I can.

"We've had some tough matches. But I'm in the final and I'm happy with that."

The road to the final was relatively trouble–free for Dokic, who advanced without dropping a set. Davenport went to three sets in her last two contests, but in her last match against Capriati she was only challenged in the second set, breezing through the two others.

The victory continued to give Davenport confidence, improving her record to 14–1 in Zurich, where she has lost just one match in four appearances, her only defeat coming at last year's final against Martina Hingis. She won back–to–back titles in Zurich in 1997 and 1998, and tournaments in nearby Lucerne in 1993 and 1994.

"Whenever you have success somewhere it gives you confidence," Davenport said. "Some places seem to bring out the best in some players and this one does it for me."

In contrast, Capriati, playing in her first tournament since overtaking Martina Hingis for the world's top ranking, had not looked particularly convincing in her new position. She lost in the doubles opening round, labored past Russian wildcard Nadia Petrova in her first singles match and was slow to relax against 17–year–old Swiss qualifier Marie–Gaiane Mikaelian in the quarterfinals.

Davenport steamrolled through the opening set, sweeping the first four games before recording the decisive break at 5–1.

Often leaving Capriati helplessly chasing the ball, Davenport appeared in complete control, losing just two points on her own serve with a frustrated Capriati struggling to score just eight points the entire set and repeatedly questioning calls by the line judges.

However, determined to justify her new status as world No. 1, Capriati raised her level of play in the second set, building two break points before taking her opponent's opening serve.

But Davenport immediately broke back, starting what would be the start of a tug of war.

Capriati broke again at 2–2 and looked poised to level the sets, serving out at 5–4. But her rival suddenly delivered a string of exceptional shots, including a strikingly meticulous overhead smash to go 0–40. Capriati managed to score a point before losing her serve on a long shot.

But world No. 1 wasn't about to let the hard–fought set slip away, rallying back to win the next two games, using one of two break points to go 6–5 and serving out with a love–service game as Davenport sent the ball into the net.

Davenport took the first three games in the final set, with Capriati apparently unable to find the answer to her opponent's serve, and struggling with her own.

She saved one match point at 30–40 at 5–2, but a wildly long shot handed Davenport the victory.

"I was a bit surprised," said Davenport, a No. 1 on four occasions. "I didn't feel I was playing so good but that she was so bad.

"But it's tough being No. 1 with everyone expecting you to go out there and win. It's a great ride to get there but then suddenly something mentally changes where you get there and you're playing as No. 1."

"I couldn't get a grip at first," said Capriati, her eyes red. "I didn't feel nervous at all but maybe I wasn't playing as confident today."

Earlier in the week, Davenport had hinted that U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams was the true top player in the world.

"Jennifer is No. 1 on the computer but when I play Venus, in my mind, it feels like she's the best player in the world," had said Davenport.

Capriati appeared unhappy about the comment Saturday.

"I don't know her performances at Grand Slams," she said of Davenport, who has won five titles this season but no Grand Slams. "But what's important for me is doing well at the big tournaments and Grand Slams. What's important for me is that I'm at the championships the week after next."