Thursday, August 10 2006 10:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Los Angeles: Samantha Stosur spoils Lindsay Davenport's WTA return from injury on Wednesday, outlasting the former world number one 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-3 to reach the third round of this 600,000-dollar US Open tune up.

Davenport, seeded fourth, is playing for the first time since Indian Wells in March, when she revealed she had been diagnosed with a bulging disk in her lower back.

"It stinks. But it is a step forward for me," Davenport says of the loss. The 30-year-old Californian, who has had less than four weeks on the practice court, dropped her serve three times in the third set, including double-faulting on match point to hand the win to Stosur, better known as half of the top women's doubles team in the world.

"My body started to feel drained as the match went on, which I expected to be the case. In the third set I don't think I could get a serve over 100 (mph)," Davenport says. "I'm happy at least I felt my body didn't get injured. The back was fine. My arm was just so tired," Davenport says.

Davenport says she knew before going into the match that she was probably under-prepared, but she thought that if she could get some rhythm she might be able to pull off a victory.

Stosur, however, does not offer that rhythm as she rode a solid serving performance that included 15 aces to the win.

"I certainly served one of my best matches today," Stosur says.

"That really got me going. That maybe put a little more pressure on her. Maybe she was expecting to be able to break me more easily," Stosur says.

Stosur says she can tell that Davenport is not at her peak.

"She always hits the ball hard and flat and deep, she still was able to do that," Stosur says.

"I don't think she was moving very well today. She threw in some double faults at bad times match point you kind of don't expect it from a player of her level," Stosur adds. "You certainly don't feel your best after you play a shade of what you feel you can play, but it's a long road back after any injury," Davenport says. "Hopefully, the next time you see me I'll be much sharper," she says, adding she will next play New Haven as she prepares for the year's final Grand Slam tournament.

Stosur's 2006 season has included six doubles titles, including a triumph at Roland Garros, but the 22-year-old American has yet to win a WTA singles title. She booked a third-round meeting with either Serbian Jelena Jankovic or Czech Lucie Safarova.

Top seed Maria Sharapova of Russia, seeking to build on her triumph in San Diego last week, is to open her campaign on Wednesday (09 Aug, 2006) night with a second-round clash against qualifier and compatriot Anastassia Rodionova.

The winner will face France's Marion Bartoli, who advances with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over American Jill Craybas.

Sixth-seeded Russian Anna-Lena Groenefeld reaches the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Akiko Morigami of Japan.

No. 7 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia moves on with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over Stosur's doubles partner Lisa Raymond.

She earns a match-up with seven-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who defeats Ashley Harkleroad 6-3, 6-2.

Williams receives a wild-card entry into just her her third tournament of the year - her second since a six-month injury layoff.