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Short stay at the top? Capriati's ranking in danger after loss to Testud
Updated: Friday November 02, 2001 3:22 PM
MUNICH, Germany (AP) -- Jennifer Capriati's dreams of ending the year No. 1 took a huge blow Friday with a loss to Frenchwoman Sandrine Testud. Testud beat Capriati, weakened by a throat infection, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in a two-hour thriller at the dlrs 3 million Sanex Championships, which ends the women's season. That opened the doors for Lindsay Davenport to win one more match and pass her at the top before the two month break. "I've gotten there at least. I guess it's next year start over again," said the visibly disappointed Capriati. On Monday, the American had said how much she wanted to end the year No. 1, capping her remarkable season in which she shook off her troubled teen-age years and won the Australian and French Opens. "It would mean a lot to me," Capriati said. Davenport has to beat world No. 5 Kim Clijsters Saturday in her semifinal match to end the year ranked on top. Capriati said she was under heavy medication before playing the match against the world No. 14. "It's just bad luck. I feel like I couldn't give 100 percent," Capriati said. "I was just kind of delirious out there. I mean I was just in bed all day, two days ago." In the semifinals, Testud faces Serena Williams, who beat Belgium world No. 6 Justine Henin 6-3, 7-6 (5). Williams overcame broken racket strings on match point, playing out the rally and ending it with a backhand volley. "I broke my strings in three places -- it was crazy," said Williams, who broke out into laughter after the point. Capriati now has to hope the red-hot Davenport, riding a 14-match winning streak, loses to the talented 18-year-old. Then she would still remain No. 1. Capriati has held the No. 1 spot for less than three weeks, taking it from Martina Hingis on Oct. 15. Capriati may have lost the match and likely her top status when she missed one volley that turned around the match. Testud went a break up at 3-1 in the final set as Capriati took her easy backhand, which floated up to the net, and drove it into the cords. Afterwards the American just stood there for a moment shaking her head. Testud, a 29-year-old veteran, also upset France's Amelie Mauresmo, the world No. 7, in her first-round match. Testud had knocked Capriati out of Filderstadt in the quarterfinals, just days before Capriati took away Hingis' top ranking. Capriati struggled from the start, dropping her first service game with a double fault. She appeared to have gained control of the match after a slow start when she broke Testud's serve to take a 2-1 lead in the second set. But the Frenchwoman promptly broke back. Afterwards the two traded some long rallies, spectacular shots and lots of unforced errors. Capriati's forehand sailed long to end the match in just under two hours. "You know if it was any other tournament I probably wouldn't have played, but it's the last one of the year," Capriati said. "I still think I fought well. Now I can just rest." Williams had a far easier time against Henin, the world No. 6. Williams was helped by two costly double faults from the 18-year-old Henin that came when the Belgium player led 4-2 in the tiebreaker. It was just Williams' second match since losing the U.S. Open final to sister Venus six weeks ago. "I don't think I played all that well, I have to get into a rhythm," said Williams, down to world No. 10. "I hope my next match is better." Williams' volley ended the match against Henin in 1 hour, 23 minutes. "I lost focus a bit at the end, but I was never in doubt I would win," said Williams. Henin also had four double faults in two service games to open the match, taking her out of the first set with an early break. But Henin enjoyed a breakthrough year, soaring in the rankings and also reaching the French Open semifinals. "It was an unbelievable season for me especially in the Grand Slams," said Henin. "I had one final, one semifinal. I was No. 50 last year so I can be happy that I was in the championships this year."
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