Davenport falls in finals

Tony Altobelli

MANHATTAN BEACH - Lindsay Davenport, a member of the Palisades

Tennis Club, lost to Serena Williams, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, in Sunday’s final of

the estyle.com Classic at the Manhattan Country Club.

Davenport, ranked No. 2 in the world, had an opportunity to serve out

the match, leading 6-5 after she broke Williams’ serve.

Williams, ranked. No. 7, broke right back, however, to even the third

set and force a tiebreaker, which she won, 7-1.

It was the fifth time in a row that Williams has defeated Davenport.

Davenport, 24, will next compete in a Montreal before doing battle in

the U.S. Open, which she won in 1998. The U.S. Open starts on Aug. 28.