Davenport wins a classic

Davenport has beaten Seles nine times in 11 meetings

Lindsay Davenport won her fourth title of the year beating Monica Seles 6-3 7-5 in the final of the estyle.com Classic in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Davenport was handed victory on her second match point when Seles double-faulted.

For Seles it was the end of a run that had included victories over defending champion Serena Williams and world number one Martina Hingis.

But she couldn't raise her game for one last effort as Davenport broke her in the opening game and again in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

My game is erratic and a lot of times with my tennis that's the way it happens

  Lindsay Davenport

Seles saved a set point in the eighth game and earned a break to narrow the gap to 3-5, but immediately dropped her own serve to surrender the set.

The number six seed looked to be warming up in the second when she broke to lead 2-1, but again she could not maintain the advantage with her opponent breaking back immediately.

Davenport will now climb a place to number two in the world rankings behind Hingis.

"Overall, I'm happy with the way I've played the last two days compared to earlier in the week," said Davenport, who recorded her ninth win over Seles in eleven meetings.

"My game is erratic and a lot of times with my tennis that's the way it happens.

I was a bit tired but she was the better player out there

  Monica Seles

"Maybe I struggle a few matches, and if I get through them I get better as the week goes on."

Seles, who was playing her third straight tournament since a five-month lay-off due to a foot injury, refused to blame fatigue for her defeat.

I was a bit tired but she was the better player out there," said Seles who moves up to number eight in the rankings.

"It's been a great week. I've had a lot of tough matches, and it's been fantastic to fight through and get to the finals."