Williams' 35 match-winning
streak broken

Lindsay Davenport ended Venus Williams's 35-match victory streak on Monday, a run that lasted more than four months, going back to the quarter-finals of the French Open.

"One loss after 35 wins is not that bad," Williams said after the 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 defeat in the final of the Generali Ladies Open. "I have only lost four matches this year."

"She's had a great run," Davenport said.

During this run Williams also captured the Olympic crown.

"I thought the first two sets were pretty even, and I think the deciding point was the 4-2 break in the third," said Davenport, reflecting on the match.

Entering the match, Davenport had a dismal record against Williams, losing in five of their last six meetings this season, including in the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open.

Davenport, seeded No1 here, broke in the opening game, but Williams came back strongly to make it 3-3. Davenport produced a run of her own to take the first set.

In the second set, Williams gained the upper hand with powerful serves, good footwork and decisive passing shots.

Williams looked to carry on in the same vein in the third set, but Davenport broke to go up by 4-2 and take charge. And she really took charge winning the last two games without yielding a point.