CHAMP IS OUSTED AT ACURA; HALARD-DECUGIS DEFEATS DAVENPORT.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer Lindsay Davenport's homecoming to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, ended prematurely in Saturday's semifinals as Julie Halard-Decugis Julie Halard-Decugis (born September 10, 1970) is a former professional female tennis player from Versailles, France. Halard-Decugis lived in La Baule, France during the initial stages of her career and later moved to Pully, Switzerland. won the final five games of the second set. The underdog from France ousted the tournament's defending champ 6-3, 7-5 in one hour, eight minutes at Manhattan Country Club. ``I don't care
"Don't Care" is a 1994 (see 1994 in music) single by American death metal band Obituary. if it's here or Tokyo or Europe,'' Davenport said. ``When you don't play well on the surface you like, it's disappointing.'' Davenport, a Newport Beach Newport Beach, residential and resort city (1990 pop. 66,643), Orange co., S Calif., on Newport Bay and the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1906. It is a popular seaside resort and yachting center. Manufactures include electrical and medical equipment, computers, boats, and adhesives. resident, normally thrives on hardcourts such as this one. She is also known for a powerful, consistent forehand forehand the head, neck, shoulders, withers and forelimbs of the horse. . But that shot failed her as she had 32 unforced errors to Halard-Decugis' 12. ``I missed so many shots long and wide, and my forehand has been a strength for years,'' Davenport said. ``Hopefully, it's just a one-match thing.'' Davenport and Halard-Decugis are power players, so their rallies typically were fast. The games also were quick; only two went to 40-deuce. In one of those 40-deuce games, Halard-Decugis served while trailing 5-2. Davenport had two break points and Halard-Decugis had three double faults but recovered to win the game. ``That's just so bad if she has three double faults and you don't break her,'' Davenport said. ``I just couldn't put it together. Halard-Decugis has not lost a set in the Acura Classic The Acura Classic was a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women, held every summer at the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. It was classified on the WTA Tour as a Tier I tournament from 2004 until its final year in 2007. , eliminating Iva Majoli Iva Majoli Marić (born August 12, 1977) is a former professional tennis player from Zagreb, Croatia. She turned pro in 1991 at the age of fourteen. At age 19, she stunned Roland Garros, winning handily 6-4 6-2 in the French Open final in 1997. , Amy Frazier Amy Frazier (born September 19, 1972 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a professional female tennis player from the United States. She will be most remembered for her longevity on the WTA Tour. and Mary Pierce Mary Pierce (born on January 15, 1975, in Montreal, Canada) is a French-American women's professional tennis player on the WTA tour and the winner of a total of four Grand Slam titles: two in singles; and two in doubles. Pierce plays for France. . Davenport and Pierce both said they were off against Halard-Decugis. ``I don't care,'' Halard-Decugis said. ``If they don't want to play good against me, I don't complain.'' The first set was straightforward and lasted 31 minutes. Each player won every serve until Davenport failed in the fourth game, when Halard-Decugis had a triple-break point. On the second break try, Davenport hit into the net to give her opponent the point. There were no other break points in the first set until the final game, when Davenport failed to convert two break points and repeatedly missed attempts at winners down the line. Davenport pulled her left hamstring in her victory Friday night in a tight, three-set match against Conchita Martinez but insisted the injury did not hamper her against Halard-Decugis. In her 13-year pro career, Halard-Decugis has never been ranked higher than 15th. The 28-year-old came back to the tour in 1998 after missing more than a year with a variety of injuries. She lives in Pully, Switzerland, and is married to her longtime tennis coach, Arnaud Decugis. Halard-Decugis said she didn't notice that Davenport was off her game because Davenport served well. ``I think she is best with her serve and backhand,'' Halard-Decugis said. ``Sometimes she is good with her forehand. For me, I am best with my forehand, so I kept trying to hit it.'' Davenport said the loss would linger in her mind ``for about a day.'' She hopes to turn things around during the upcoming Pilot Pen tournament in New Haven New Haven, city (1990 pop. 130,474), New Haven co., S Conn., a port of entry where the Quinnipiac and other small rivers enter Long Island Sound; inc. 1784. Firearms and ammunition, clocks and watches, tools, rubber and paper products, and textiles are among the many and the U.S. Open, which follows. She won at Stanford and made the semifinals in Carlsbad and Los Angeles this summer. However, she won all three tournaments last year. ``Obviously, (Halard-Decugis) played well,'' Davenport said. ``But you hate to say it. . . I think I was awful today.'' CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Julie Halard-Decugis defeated Lindsay Davenport in a semifinal match at the Acura Tennis Tournament in Manhattan Beach on Saturday. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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