Wimbledon, ENGLAND, July 2 (Reuters) - Lindsay Davenport demonstrated the virtue of patience to Jelena Dokic on Monday in an impressive 7-5 6-4 win over the Yugoslav teenager at Wimbledon.
The American third seed quelled a lively opponent who paid the price for hurrying at the vital points of their fourth-round match on Centre Court.
Dokic broke first but immediately lost her own service in the first set and then double-faulted at 3-3, 30-40 in the second set.
They were the key moments of a tightly-contested tussle.
"I was trying to take my time, be relaxed and not to rush," said Davenport, the 1999 champion and last year's losing finalist.
"When I got up 4-3 in the second set that was it."
Dokic said her failure to hold serve after breaking for 4-2 in the first set had been decisive.
"I had a break in the first set and didn't hold my serve. I just rushed. That was a big mistake right there and that's where I probably lost the match too."
Davenport has been lacking match fitness after recovering from a badly bruised right knee and it showed on occasions as the 25-year-old lumbered around the court.
"I thought I did bounce back from not starting off great," said the American, who had to save two break points in her opening service game.
"I was little slow to react at the beginning. It took me a couple of games to get used to the pace," she said.
Davenport lost her third service game to trail 4-2 before coming to life with an immediate break back and another to take the set.
"As soon as you get broke you want to break back right away," she said.
"That was the big game to break back. I waited my time until the appropriate moment came.
"I just played solid and didn't do anything outlandish."
The 18-year-old Dokic described Monday's match as a missed opportunity.
"It was 7-5 6-4 but it was a lot closer than that, there were a few opportunities.
"I didn't play the big points well. That's where I lost the match. Especially on the big points I had trouble with her serve."
