ACURA CLASSIC: DAVENPORT HOBBLES INTO ACURA FINAL WIN STREAK IS ALIVE AT 13.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

CARLSBAD - With one step in the wrong direction, Lindsay Davenport nearly became the latest American to join the injury-related exodus at the Acura Classic.

Davenport aggravated her knee - the same one that was surgically repaired two years ago and that made her sit out after the French Open - reaching for a ball against Russian Elena Dementieva in her semifinal match on Saturday morning.

Venus and Serena Williams withdrew earlier in the week and Jennifer Capriati and the 2003 finalists, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, didn't even make the draw.

In short, Davenport was all the Acura Classic had.

She hung on for a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Elena Dementieva and will play Anastasia Myskina, a winner in a third-set tiebreak, today in the final, provided the knee holds up overnight.

``It looks like the pain was unrelated to my previous surgery or what was happening at the French,'' Davenport said. ``I feel very lucky that it could've been a lot worse. I anticipate to be ready to go (today).''

Davenport has plenty to play for. She's won 13 consecutive matches and the last two tournaments in California (Bank of the West and JPMorgan Chase Open, in Carson). If she can beat Myskina - she leads the series 2-0 - she'll have won on three consecutive Sundays.

Davenport came up lame late in the second set after she tried to chase a ball that didn't come in the way she expected. She jammed her right knee but there was little swelling.

After, she winced in pain at the handshake with Dementieva but bounded up the stairs to the interview table and was optimistic after the match.

``I really want to do this so hopefully my body just allows me to do it,'' Davenport said.

The win streak echoes her 1998 run - she took all three hardcourt tournaments in California and, in September, a U.S. Open title. Though six years older, Davenport is in better shape and she's playing a lighter schedule. She'll skip the Olympics to be fully rested for the Open.

It was Dementieva who called for a trainer in the second set, to attend to a strained muscle above her right knee. She said the tape helped her move better but later dismissed it as a factor in the loss.

``People don't want to know about it if you having something (wrong),'' Dementieva said, in contrast to the Americans who pulled out earlier in the week. ``Just play.''

Dementieva was blown back by Davenport's power in the first - the No. 4 seed lost just four points on her serve - and then put off-track by spotty linesmanship as the match progressed.

Both Davenport and Dementieva approached the chair to complain about poor calls.

``Even I can miss my favorite forehand,'' Dementieva said. ``But today it was too much. How many times do I have to win a game?''

The crowd booed the team of line judges that left the court at a break, which made Dementieva smile.

``I think all the people were very happy when they changed them,'' she said.

Myskina, seeded third, survived nine match points from No. 12 Zvonareva in the final tiebreak to get the 6-2, 6-7(4), 7-6(17-15) victory. Myskina won it on her fifth match point, nearly 2 1/2 hours in, on a Zvonareva backhand that hit the net. Myskina earned match point on a net-cord winner.

``I tried to fight,'' Myskina said. ``I didn't think how I was going to win the match. I was just trying to fight.

Myskina spent much of the match glaring at her coach and ex-boyfriend Jens Gerlach. She took a two-game lead in the third set but coughed up five consecutive games before forcing the epic tiebreak.

``The bigger part of my game is my head and I started a little bit losing this,'' Myskina said. ``I stopped talking to my coach and that helps a little bit.''

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Photo:

Lindsay Davenport returns a backhand in her win against Russian Elena Dementieva on Saturday. Davenport has won 13 consecutive matches and will play in the Acura Classic final today.

Bob Grieser/Associated Press

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