Davenport Healthy, Ready to Go

Lindsay Davenport was pondering how many times she has been at the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament.

"Nine," quickly came a voice from the back of the room. The voice belonged to tourney director Anne Worcester, who was ecstatic that Davenport had flown in from Beijing the night before to play doubles at this year's event.

Davenport is 32, with a young son, and has been bothered by cartilage damage in her knee for much of the year. She has publicly pondered retiring after this year's U.S. Open, but hasn't decided yet.

For now, she'll be perhaps the most popular player at this year's Pilot Pen. Worcester said on Friday that she hoped to get Davenport's doubles matches with new partner Daniela Hantuchova on center court as much as possible.

Davenport, who lost with doubles partner Liezel Huber in the quarterfinals at the Olympics, said the experience was "one of the greatest times of my life, professionally." A highlight: shortly before Opening Ceremonies, the entire U.S. contingent (Dream Team, Michael Phelps ... everybody) was pulled into the fencing hall. There, they were surprised by both President Bushes -- 43 and 41 -- to address the athletes for about two hours.

For more on Davenport, check out tomorrow's New Haven Register story.

Return to the Register's Pilot Pen page