Black Tennis Pros

The USA is even with Germany in the first day of Fed Cup play.

American Lindsay Davenport did not have a good day at the office at all. Davenport experienced her first loss in Fed Cup play since 1994.

Sabine Lasicki of Germany had an easy time bringing in the first match for her team. Lasicki defeated Davenport in straight sets 6-1, 7-5.

Davenport's game was lackluster and error filled just as it was when we last saw her during her loss to Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open. Davenport still seems so unsure of herself. She has not regained her dead-on shot making, or the ability to dictate the pace of the game.

The next match was American Ashley Harkleroad and Germany's Tatjana Malek. Much to my surprise Harkleroad came out on the money and took the match to Malek. Harkleroad defeated Malek 6-1, 6-3. PHEW!!!

Here are some excerpts from Davenport's post-match interview:

DAVENPORT: It wasn't happening for me today.

I was definitely not ahhh, seeing the ball as early as I wanted to and getting on top of the shots. At the same time the balls were comin', especially the serves were comin' so hard, I was never really on top of a rally. Ahhh, but luckily I got a little bit more warmed up, got a little bit more aggressive, but still just never felt like I was dictating or hitting the ball as cleanly as I would have liked. Some of that is definitely related to ahhh, footwork and getting in position. And obviously a lot of that has to do with the shots she was hitting to me, and me not being in position.

Q: Lindsay, can you remember the last time you came out and started so flat?

DAVENPORT: (groans) I have a hard time remembering the last time that, you know, a match went so one sided against me, a match that, ahhhh, you know, hopefully that's been my strength, is to take control of so, but ahhhh, hopefully that'll change.

Q: Any particular reason why today?

DAVENPORT: No, I don't know. I've had a great week of practice. I thought I was hitting the ball well. Ahhh, I don't know why. I think, I wish I did, and I'll have to figure out a reason tonight so it doesn't happen again tomorrow. Ahhh, but, you know, so far in the comeback I had been playing very well up until just very recently.

So, hopefully I can get my game back on track and, and start playing the kind of tennis I need to play to be successful.

Q: Lindsay, this is a followup to that. Any indication in your warmup that this would not be a good day?

DAVENPORT: No, I warmed up well, so ahhh, no, just some days it happens. You go out there, you're flat you're not hitting the balls you want to hit, ahhh, and unfortunately for the U.S. team, it was me today. And like I said, I think we, by no means feel we are out of it, we're obviously hoping to go one all into tomorrow. If we're down 0-2, ahhhh, you know, we still ahhhh, we still have a chance. so we look forward to hopefully a good day on Sunday.

Q: Is there something to be said perhaps for things coming maybe a little bit too easily for you since your comeback? If this match had been when you first came back maybe it would have been a little expected?

DAVENPORT: I don't know, I mean I was definitely, you know, a lot of people were talking about, you know, the U.S. dominance in Fed Cup. But I, I definitely thought that this was gonna be a tough tie and I was saying that all week. Ahhhh, I don't know, I mean, I was, it's so hard, it just happens. So, it's too hard to be too analytical about it right now. I mean, all I can say is that, you know, I tried. I did not play my best, and I get to try and go out there tomorrow and rectify that situation.

Hopefully, like I said, it's still enough for the U.S. team. But, obviously I feel bad for my teammates, and I'm hoping that it's just a little set back and not a huge bump in the road.