COMEBACK TRAIL PROTECT AND SERVE LINDSAY DAVENPORT AND SERENA WILLIAMS RETURN, WITH THE HOPES OF AMERICAN TENNIS PLACED ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

Lindsay Davenport lounged around her Laguna Beach home, nursing a sore back. She fell into a normal routine, practice schedules no longer the focus of her day.

She hung around with the family. She could go out and see a movie in the middle of a day.

After a lifetime committed to tennis, the 30-year-old could do whatever she wanted with her days. She realized, that could be her life from now on.

It didn't sound so bad. But, as her back began feeling better, her husband, Jon Leach, suggested she pick up a racket again and hit a few balls so she'd know if it was still in her.

``There wasn't a lot of thought going into it,'' Davenport said. ``I just kind of go with what feels natural. When I started practicing again and slowly started doing more and more, it felt like fun.''

That's good news for American tennis fans, who have had to deal with the uninspiring Amelie Mauresmo of France and Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium exchanging Grand Slam titles this year.

Davenport and Serena Williams, also returning from injury, hope to salvage the season in its final month, beginning this week at the JPMorgan Chase Open in Carson.

Williams, who has battled a knee injury, starts her third tournament of the year at

7 p.m. tonight against Maria Kirilenko of Russia in Home Depot Center.

``It's been an awfully weird year, not being able to play most of the time and especially missing out on two Grand Slams,'' Williams said. ``That was kind of difficult for me.''

Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam winner and former No. 1 player in the world, easily could have stepped away from the game. Her last Grand Slam title was the Australian Open in 2000.

This is her first tournament since playing Indian Wells in March.

``I wouldn't come back if I was not playing well in practice,'' said Davenport, who plays her first match Wednesday. ``I'm not coming back so I can play (the U.S. Open) one last time and lose early. That's not what I'm about.''

Davenport said she plans to play past the Open, which begins at the end of the month. One last Grand Slam run for her would give American tennis a needed spark.

But it's the re-emergence of the 24-year-old Serena and her 26-year-old sister Venus that is needed for the sport's long-term success. Venus, who has played five events this year, withdrew from the tournament Friday with a wrist injury.

Serena Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, has dropped to 110 in the rankings.

But the sisters, who grew up in Compton, remain the biggest draw in the United States, if not tennis in general.

``There's a lot of fans for Serena here in Southern California,'' JPMorgan tournament director Bill Peterson said. ``Having grown up here, I think a lot of people still associate that with her and follow her career. She's still one of the marquee players on the tour, and we're ecstatic to have her in the event.''

Williams returned from a six-month absence to play in Cincinnati two weeks ago, reaching the semifinals. She said feels close to 100 percent healthy.

``I'm really confident, or else I wouldn't be here,'' Williams said. ``I don't feel there will be any problem as for me getting back to the top at all.''

Davenport and Williams chose what they consider their hometown tournament to springboard their comeback, though they aren't sure what to expect this week. They could go deep or get knocked out early. They just want to be ready for the year's final Grand Slam.

When Williams and Davenport pulled out of the JPMorgan Chase Open the week before the tournament last year, it was devastating to attendance. Around half of the prepaid ticket sales showed up each day.

``I think just having her play is a huge first step,'' Davenport said of Williams. ``When she's not on the court, it doesn't do anybody any good. ... Having her at the tournament helps fans so much, either Venus or Serena, and hopefully they'll be in New York. We need to have them at the tournament. When we see them show up for practice, I think everyone breathes a bigger sigh of relief.''

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CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color) Serena Williams, above, and Lindsay Davenport, top, are playing in this week's JPMorgan Chase Open.

Al Bello/Getty Images

Christophe Archambault/Getty Images

(3) no caption (Lindsay Davenport)

Mike Clarke/Getty Images

(4) no caption (Serena Williams)

Cancan Chu/Getty Images

Box:

(1) JPMORGAN CHASE OPEN

(2) DOUBLE FAULTS