Davenport in winning groove

Lindsay Davenport scored a routine victory over Laura Granville at the Auckland Classic.

Veteran American starts the season with solid performance

Lindsay Davenport made an impressive start to the 2008 season with a routine victory over Laura Granville at the Auckland Classic. Davenport won their first round match 6-2 6-3 to maintain her impressive series of results since returning to the court after becoming a mother. The former world number one - now ranked 72 - encountered little trouble as she dismissed her fellow American. She survived a blip in the second set when three double faults allowed Granville to break, but otherwise Davenport had too much class. After winning two of her three events since her return to action, Davenport knows she can continue to improve and climb the rankings. "I had a lot of opportunities there and a few game points that I didn't take so the score could have been a little different," she said. "I know I can keep getting better." The three-time Grand Slam champion will continue to gear up for the Australian Open with a second round clash against fifth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues. The Spaniard beat Australia's Nicole Pratt 7-6 6-3 in their first round match. The only seeded player to lose in the first round was France's Emilie Loit, who was beaten 6-4 6-1 by Ashley Harkleroad of the United States.