Davenport

PARIS - Lindsay Davenport's eyes got wide, possibly wider than they were an hour earlier, when heavily favored Kim Clijsters slapped her 41st unforced error to end their match and reinforce Davenport's reputation as the Secretariat of Roland Garros. She had just been asked in an interview what it would mean to add a French Open title to her championships at the other three majors, giving her the same Slam sweep Andre Agassi achieved here in 1999. "You're way too far ahead," she said yesterday, half gasping and then laughing at what surely must seem an impossibility to her. Davenport would be the first to tell you she's no clay-courter.

PARIS - After a few more dismal showings in Grand Slam events - well, maybe even now - the former No. 1 women's tennis player will face this question: Didn't you used to be Venus Williams? Williams hasn't been close to her prime in years, and her loss yesterday in the third round of the French Open to a 15-year-old ranked barely inside the Top 100 had her looking the picture of abject failure. Williams hit seven double faults and committed 52 unforced errors in losing, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1, to Sesil Karatantcheva of Bulgaria, who dropped to the court after match point and later threw kisses and bowed to the crowd.

PARIS - French and Spanish tennis fans have been waiting for this match to be joined since the draw was pulled. Spain's Rafael Nadal, at this moment the hottest clay-court player in the known universe, against Richard Gasquet, the enfant fantastique, young star of Gallic tennis. French Open officials have yet to announce a time, but this third-round extravaganza between two rising 18-year-olds will be played tomorrow and, without doubt, on the Philippe Chatrier Stadium court in front of 14,000 loud patrons.

On April 18, 2005, JOAN M. (nee Driver); beloved mother of Rebecca Roberts, Juanita Diaz and Joseph Davenport; loving daughter of Marie; dear grandmother of Karen, Matthew, Ashley, Joseph, Michael, Brandon, Kevin and one great-grandson, Daniel. Also survived by five sisters. The family will receive friends at the family owned and operated Mc CULLY-POLYNIAK FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 237 E. Patapsco Ave (Brooklyn) on Thursday, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maryland freshman center Crystal Langhorne and Ohio State sophomore center Jessica Davenport would never be caught boasting about their basketball skills. Their teammates, however, have no such reservations. "I don't think anyone matches Crystal's strength or her skills," sophomore guard Shay Doron said of the 6-foot-3 Langhorne. "She's unbelievable." "We've got Jessica," Buckeyes sophomore guard Brandie Hoskins said. "She's, what, 6-5, 6-6, [Davenport is listed as 6-4]

MELBOURNE, Australia - This wasn't a game of two halves, rather, a game of two selves. The injured imposter portraying Serena Williams was slow-moving, slow-serving and almost couldn't keep a ball in play during the first set of the Australian Open final. Sets two and three featured the tenacious Serena Williams, the one who dominated the sport a couple of years ago. Confusion reigned at Rod Laver Arena. And ultimately, so did the second Serena. The seventh-seeded Williams won her second Australian Open singles title, and her first Grand Slam championship in 18 months, defeating No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, in 1 hour, 29 minutes at Melbourne Park.

Maybe it was the crinkly feel of that first multicolored Monopoly wad, but somehow Dominic Crapuchettes always knew that he would make his fortune in board games. For now, though, he deals in clay dough. That's the currency of Cluzzle, the clay-sculpting party game that Crapuchettes invented in 2003, and subsequently sank his life savings into. The 35-year-old Greenbelt resident is one of dozens of area game designers trying to break into the $1 billion board game industry with self-published wares this Christmas.

OK, it wasn't the semifinals at Wimbledon, where No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and No. 4 Maria Sharapova last met. The court was sky blue, not English green. But Sharapova, who won that last confrontation, was still on her game. She stepped to the service line and began. Two controlled bounces of the ball, a slow centering of the racket and then her right foot stepped in beside her left for just an instant as her arm came forward for a fast, strong swing. Sharapova served first and was on her way to a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Davenport last night in the 19th Mercantile Tennis Challenge at 1st Mariner Arena.

On December 12, 2004, PIERCE, III, devoted father of Maurice, David and Darryl Davenport. He is also survived by two daughters-in-law Karin and Cheryl Davenport, five grandchildren and a host of other relatives. Friends may call at the Gary P. March Funeral Home, 270 Fred Hilton Pass on Thursday from 10 A.M. to 7 P.M. Family will receive friends on Friday from 10 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. Funeral Services to follow. Interment Maryland National Memorial Park.