Controversy flared briefly in the second set. Williams was serving at 4-4, 15-0 when her serve was ruled an ace, even though TV replays showed the ball clearly out. The mild-mannered Davenport pleaded in vain for chair umpire Gerry Armstrong to overrule the call.
"If I did my job that poorly, I wouldn't be able to be out here," she told Armstrong. "I don't understand why you're sitting here. It's not even close. You don't have the guts to overrule?"
Asked later about the dispute, Davenport smiled and said, "Gosh, I wish I could remember more of the second set."
Williams went on to win the game at love for 5-4, then earned a set point in the next game. Davenport saved it with a service winner, then won the next two points as well for 5-all.
Davenport regrouped and broke in the next game when Williams slipped and fell on her backside chasing a shot on the worn turf behind the baseline. From a prone position, Williams got her racket on Davenport's final shot but pulled the ball well wide.
Down but not out, Williams rallied, breaking at love when Davenport served for the match. Williams then hit six winners in the tiebreaker to even the match.
She won despite 10 double-faults and some shaky early play, and hit 49 winners to 30 for Davenport, who converted only four of 12 break-point chances.
Williams received ?600,000 (US$1,062,000). Davenport settled for ?300,000 (US$531,000).
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