ACURA CLASSIC: CRUISE CONTROL FOR DAVENPORT FOURTH SEED GAINS CONFIDENCE IN WIN; NO. 2 MAURESMO ELIMINATED IN UPSET.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

CARLSBAD - Lindsay Davenport, the old lady this week at the Acura Classic, didn't miss a trick in her straight-sets victory over Karolina Sprem on Wednesday evening.

The winner on consecutive Sundays at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford and the JPMorgan Open in Carson, Davenport is on a 10-match win streak.

But while the wins pile up, the 28-year old is starting to feel the effects.

``I've gained so much confidence the last two weeks,'' Davenport said. ``A lot of times you feel like all you really need is confidence to win. But mentally, I'm tired. Physically I'm tired.''

The stretch echoes Davenport's 1998 run, which included all three California tournaments and, later that summer, the U.S. Open. Right now, she's the hottest player on the WTA tour.

And she showed it on Wednesday evening with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Sprem, who made waves at Wimbledon. It was the 19-year old from Croatia who failed to correct a linesman's error, in her favor, during an upset victory over Venus Williams.

On Wednesday there was no need for a tiebreaker, as Sprem won only eight points total in the second.

For Davenport, the last six matches have all been two-set victories, though at the start of the match it didn't appear the streak would hold.

Playing for the first time since Sunday, Davenport trailed 2-0 in the first and had six break-point opportunities on Sprem's serve. She failed to convert all of them, however, and fell behind 3-0.

But Sprem cooled off, her returns packed less power, and Davenport allowed her just one more game the remainder of the match.

``She played so well in the first few games,'' Davenport said. ``I was a little scared there, but I was able to hang with her and then come out on top.''

Though a Laguna Beach resident and Orange County native, Davenport received the Acura Classic's annual Loyalty Award in a post-match ceremony. The tournament was Davenport's first as a professional - she lost in the finals of qualifying in 1991, when she was 15.

``It's the one for whatever reason I've not done as well as the other (California events),'' Davenport said. ``It'd be nice to get more than one title here.''

Conchita Martinez and Davenport meet in the third round today. Martinez has been tough for the No. 4 seed in the past.

``I've had a lot of matches with her and a lot that haven't gone my way,'' Davenport said. ``Conchita is going to do anything not to give me pace.''

Davenport's road to the final, already smooth due to a top-heavy draw, was made even easier thanks to Australian Alicia Molik.

Molik upset the No. 2 seed, France's Amelie Mauresmo, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in the day's featured afternoon match.

``I don't have much to say about what I should've done,'' Mauresmo said. ``It was her day. Her match.''

Molik, 23, nearly beat Mauresmo on her home court, the Australian Open, in January.

``I expected to come away with a win, to be honest,'' Molik said about Wednesday's match. ``I was pretty disappointed after Australia. I was 3-0 down but didn't let that bother me.''

Molik kept her errors low and her service game at a high level. She served out the match strong - Mauresmo failed to get a single point at the close.

Lauren Gustus, [phone]

lauren.gustus(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Lindsay Davenport hits a forehand shot during her second-round victory over Karolina Sprem on Wednesday at the Acura Classic in Carlsbad. Davenport plays Conchita Martinez today.

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

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