Hail Lindsay Davenport!

And pass the cream cheese to Maria Sharapova, who got double-bageled (6-0, 6-0) this afternoon by Davenport in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, California. The pair was scheduled to play the night match, but when Andre Agassi withdrew from his match with Lleyton Hewitt, the women's game was moved up. Maybe this change of events through Sharapova off her game. Maybe it helped Davenport. No one can know.

During the first set, Sharapova was not especially error-prone; she simply couldn't get control of the ball because of Davenport's powerful serves and groundstrokes, and her careful point construction. In the second set, her frustration was palpable, and her play reflected it. Lindsay can be a head case, but when her confidence is up, she can beat anyone on the tour. Currently the number one player in the world, she will face Kim Clijsters tomorrow in the final. This is an interesting match-up because Clijsters has been out for months with a serious wrist injury. She is playing very well, but won her semifinal match against Elena Dementieva easily because Dementieva sustained an injury during the match.

For a top player to play a match and not win a game is rare, but it does occur from time to time. Even the great Monica Seles had to eat the double bagel from Martina Hingis at the 2000 Ericsson Open. Sharapova's history with Davenport, however, is one worth mentioning. The first time they played each other was in the 2004 Wimbledon semifinal. Davenport completely dominated the first set, and the beginning of the second set. Then there was a rain break, and after that, everything changed, with Sharapova winning the match. Sharapova went on to win the tournament. Anyone who saw that and who was watching today had to feel a little anxious about the possibility of a repeat disaster for Davenport, but she stayed the course and then some.