Olga Govortsova
© Mike Baz
Memphis, TN -- No. 4 seed Lindsay Davenport cruised into her second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour final of the season Friday with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over qualifier Marina Erakovic of New Zealand in the semifinals of the Cellular South Cup.
The 31-year-old Californian will be attempting to capture her 55th career title on Saturday night against No. 5 seed Olga Govortsova. She opened the season with a title in Auckland.
Davenport, who enters the final having lost seven games in her last three matches this week, improved her match record to 11-2 on the season.
Davenport dominated from the start, leading 6-0, 3-0 before the 19-year-old Erakovic won her first game. The former No. 1 converted four of 10 break points while never facing a break point in the 57-minute match.
"I felt really good about everything and if I go through a match without losing serve, I feel good about it," said Davenport, who will try to win her fourth WTA Tour title since coming back to action last September. "It's exciting to play a final in the U.S. and great to get to the final. I hope to carry the momentum into the next couple of tournaments I play."
Davenport's last final in the U.S. was in New Haven in August 2006 and her last title on U.S. soil came in New Haven in 2005.
Davenport will also play in the doubles final with Lisa Raymond against Americans Angela Haynes and Mashona Washington. Davenport and Raymond have eight career titles together while Haynes and Washington are playing in their first Tour final together.
No. 5 seed Olga Govortsova of Belarus advanced to her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour final on Friday with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over No. 3 and last year's finalist Shahar Peer in the Cellular South Cup.
The 19-year-old defeated Peer for the second straight time ('07 Stanford, 2nd Rd.) and posted her second career Top 20 victory, both coming over the No. 18th-ranked Peer.
The 49th-ranked Govortsova's previous best Sony Ericsson WTA Tour finish was the semifinals in Tashkent last season.
"It feels really good to get to my first WTA final in only my second year on the WTA Tour," said Govortsova, who saved a match point in her second round victory over Renata Voracova.
In the opening set, Peer broke in the opening game and then lost serve in the sixth and eighth games to drop the set. In the second set, Peer jumped out to a 5-1 lead by breaking in the fourth and sixth games. She then lost serve in the seventh game but served it out for 6-3.
In the final set, Govortsova appeared to regain the momentum by breaking for a 3-1 lead but Peer broke in the next game at 30-40. Peer had a break point in the seventh game but couldn't convert. In the final game, Govortsova broke at 0-40 to seal the victory.
Govortsova converted five of nine break points, including two of three in the first and third sets while Peer was successful on four of eight break point chances in the one hour and 59 minute match.
The closely-contested match came down to second serve points won. Govortsova won 56% of second serve points won compared to Peer's 41%
Govortsova is looking forward to having a chance to play her childhood idol Lindsay Davenport if she reaches the final. "I want to play against Lindsay because she was favorite player growing up. I liked to watch her play and hope to play her in the final."
Thursday: Peer Rallies into Semifinals
Wednesday: Davenport, Peer Reach Quarterfinals
Tuesday: Williams Falls to Czech Qualifier
Monday: Davenport Avenges Loss to German Teenager



