Davenport is pressed hard

Justine Henin's preoccupation now is the removal of four wisdom teeth. It could and possibly should have been in coping with the media frenzy that would have accompanied her victory over world number two Lindsay Davenport. Instead the American recovered from 5-4 down in the third set, breaking her opponent before claiming the next two games and the match, 6-3, 2-6, 75.

It was a disappointing climax to a wonderful performance by the 16-year-old Henin who had to pre-qualify for the French Open championships. Having negotiated those three matches, she beat American Kristina Brandi, ranked 58, in the first round to set up the Davenport clash. The Belgian teenager (ranked 106), far from being overawed appeared to relish playing on Court Central.

Davenport conceded that her coach had offered a warning having seen Henin play her opening match: "He told me: `this girl is very good so you need to do this.' But unless you have actually seen this person play before, you just do not know what to expect." The American was also aware that her young opponent had won a tournament in Antwerp a few weeks ago but may not have realised that Henin enjoys a 16 wins one loss record on clay this season.

Henin enjoyed the ideal start racing into a 3-1 lead but then admitted that she began to analyse rather than just accepting the success she was enjoying. "I started to wonder why I was winning and I think I lost a little of my attacking power at the end of the first set. In hindsight I probably lost the match there."

Despite losing the first set, the Belgian girl struck back to take the second, 6-2. The third set swayed one way then another, Henin ahead 2-0, Davenport 3-2 and at 4-3 the American enjoyed six break points but ultimately squandered the opportunity. Henin won the next two games and suddenly she was serving for the match. "It was a good opportunity for me. I thought maybe I will beat the world number two. I was not too nervous."

While Henin elicited plenty of sympathy in defeat, the same was true of Japan's Ai Sugiyama who lost a marathon three hour 31 minute epic to Italian girl Silvia Farina. Farina won the first set 64, Sugiyama took the second on a tie-break, 7-6 (5) but the match was not decided for a further 20 games: the Italian eventually prevailing 11-9.

However her day was far from over as she was due back on court later on for a doubles match, this after having to call the trainer twice because of cramp in her arm.