Today's Pacific Life Open women's final between Davenport and Clijsters is a repeat of the 2003 final which Clijsters won (6-4, 7-5). Lindsay is the current #1 player in the world, 3-time Grand Slam Champion (2000 Australian, 1999 Wimbledon, 1998 U.S. Open), months away from her 29th birthday and imminent retirement but yesterday she humiliated 2004 Wimbledon champion, 17 year old Maria Sharapova 6-0,6-0 in 49 minutes. I witnessed the match from the nosebleed seats of the "Indian Wells Tennis Garden" (also known as "Prime Loge" by the event organizers--ha!) and it was an awesome display of powerful and professional work from the World's Number 1. Yes, the conditions were not ideal (about 60 degrees and somewhat windy) and the match started at least two hours early, thanks to Andre Agassi's swollen big toe, but it is unprecedented for a current Grand Slam champion (and current #3 in the world) to be shellacked in such a convincing fashion. I would have loved to see if anyone in the tennis world called the boycotting Serena Williams for a comment on the match. Clijsters is the former #1 who is a 4-time Grand Slam finalist (no wins) who is coming back from a career-threatening wrist injury and is currently ranked #133. Interestingly, Clijsters has won 8 of 14 matches with Davenport, including the last 5 times they played (in 2003). Prediction: Davenport (in 3 sets).
UPDATE 3/19/05 4:56pm: Clijsters comes back from being one point away from being down 0-5 in the first set to win that game and 6 others in a row and eventually win the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Clijsters is now 5-0 in WTA finals against Davenport and has won the last 6 times they have played!
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