STANFORD, Calif. -- After another expected victory against an overwhelmed Russian opponent, Lindsay Davenport joined her U.S. teammates for the first display of emotion in an otherwise routine Fed Cup final.
Davenport defeated Elena Likhovtseva 6-4, 6-4 Sunday to clinch the Fed Cup for the United States, then marched around the stadium holding a U.S. flag with teammates Venus and Serena Williams and Monica Seles.Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." blared from speakers as the four Americans, who gave the United States its 16th Fed Cup title, smiled broadly and waved to the crowd.
A little extra drama arose in the next match as Elena Dementieva overcame a 4-1 deficit in the third set and defeated Venus Williams 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) to prevent the United States from sweeping the event.
The U.S. team held a 3-1 lead heading into the doubles match, in which Venus and Serena Williams were to face Dementieva and Elena Makarova.
The U.S. title came as little surprise. While the American team had four of the world's top five players, Russia was missing its top-ranked player, No. 15 Anna Kournikova, who has a minor stress fracture in her right foot.
"They're very good and they can beat anybody, any team, 5-zip," Likhovtseva said. "We can't borrow any players from them, right?"
The U.S. squad, which captain Billie Jean King referred to as the "Dream Team," was so strong that U.S. Open champion Serena Williams was restricted to doubles and Seles, ranked fifth in the world, did not play at all.
Davenport, ranked second in the world, took a quick 4-1 lead in the first set against No. 17 Likhovtseva by breaking the Russian's serve three straight times. Likhovtseva got back into the set with a service break to make it 5-3 and then fought off two set points to pull to 5-4, but Davenport served out the set.
Dementieva won her match against Venus Williams on the third match point as Williams was wide with a forehand volley. Dementieva dropped to her knees on the court to celebrate.
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