Davenport dreaming after fairytale comeback in Bali

Former world number one Lindsay Davenport completed a dream comeback Sunday, winning the Commonwealth Bank Classic for a second time as she made a return to competition after one year out of tennis.

The unseeded American, whose 234 ranking makes her the lowest-ranked woman to lift a trophy on the WTA this season, defeated second seed Daniela Hantuchova for the seventh time without a loss, winning the final 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in just under two hours.

Davenport, who gave birth to a son Jagger in June, had quit tennis last September saying it was time to start a family. But she found the sporting pangs too strong to resist.

She is travelling in Asia and will play Beijing next week with her son, mother, a nanny and a hitting partner along on the trip.

"I'm a little bit in shock. It's just overwhelming and exciting. Playing my first tournament back I was unsure physically how I would respond.

"I swear this is probably the first tournament I've played in four years where I didn't have anything wrong with my lower extremities."

Davenport joins elite company in winning a big event in her first tournament back. Monica Seles did it at 1995 Toronto and Serena Williams at 2004 Miami.

Davenport won Bali in 2005 on her debut appearance and reached the semi-finals a year ago. She now has 52 career titles.

Hantuchova remains on two career titles after winning at Indian Wells in 2002 and last spring. The 24-year-old recently returned to the top 10 for the first time since September 2003.

"Lindsay is an inspiration to mums all over the world," said Hantuchova. "I have to congratulate her. She's back on top of her game and I'm glad to see her back."

Davenport earned the first break of the early evening final, taking a 2-1 lead on her fourth break point opportunity of the game.

But the Slovak second seed would not be denied, getting straight back into the contest as she squared it at two games each.

Davenport broke once again to lead 5-4 as Hantuchova produced a forehand error with the unseeded American serving out the set a game later on her second chance with a volley winner into the empty court.

Hantuchova rallied early in the second set to break for 3-1 and take her lead to 4-1 before Davenport cold react, moving quickly to level the match at one set each after one hour, 20 minutes.

The American took control for 3-1 and broke again in the last game to wrap up the dream win after winning 15 of the last 17 points.

"I was definitely getting tired there in the second set but was able to regroup and get a second or third wind for the third set," said Davenport.

"That was important and I don't know exactly where that comes from, but I definitely felt a little bit fresher in the third than I did in the second."

Davenport becomes the second mother to win a 2007 title on the WTA after Austrian Sybille Bammer in Thailand early in the year.

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