Lindsay watch...

Lindsay Davenport is very carefully dipping her toe back into the competitive waters this week in Bali, a tier III event. She is playing doubles with Daniela Hantuchova (that's a tall team!) and is playing singles for the first time since Shangai last year. She won her first match against Eleni Daniilidou convincingly at 6-2, 6-2, at one point reeling off 20 points in a row. Daniilidou is no slouch, either. Next up for her is Julie Ditty, an American that she should destroy pretty easily. That would set up a likely showdown with the #1 seed, Jelena Jankovic.

And what I wouldn't give to be able to see that match! It will be Lindsay's first true test and a good indicator of how far this 'comeback' will go. She is 31, after all, and fitness and movement were never her strong points. But the technique is flawless. It at least gives the WTA tour a shot in the arm after all the criticism leveled during and after the Open.

Interestingly enough, Jon Wertheim countered that criticism by pointing out that there were plenty of close and competitive women's matches...they just weren't the matches scheduled and shown on primetime. He raises a good point...often the best matches of any tournament are those players relegated to the outer courts. Yet another reason to visit the Open in person next year...I won't be at the mercy of any producer who thinks they know what I want to see.

Lindsay and Daniela are also still alive in the doubles draw after winning their first two matches.

Lindsay has also come under some scrutiny because she is returning so fast after the birth of her son. Many people have accused her of 'abandoning' her child. Those people should do a bit of research...all accounts have reported Jagger courtside while she practices and trains, and it isn't just her job to raise her child, she is married after all. It really surprised me to see so many people assume that she was being selfish and irresponsible. She isn't dead...she had a kid! And she's fulfilling all the roles in her life with the help and support of the other person responsible for the kid. If you ask me, that is how is should work all the time!