Lindsay Davenport shrugged off" Ihe disappointment of her Australian Open campaign Thursday and said she was happy with her form on the fast indoor courts here at the Pan Pacific Open tournament.

"It is a lough weekend after losing, and I really wanted lo do well in Melbourne, but I think once I came here I actually felt

really good and happy that I did choose lo come." said the American second seed.

Davenport failed to defend her Australian Open Iasi week, losing io eventual champion Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals.

For Capriati, 24. one of sport's most high-profile cases of teenage dilluslonmeni and burn-out, it was her first Grand Slam title after recovering from her dark years of drugs and behavioural problems.

The 24-year old Davenport

breezed past her compatriot Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 6-2 in her second round match Thursday in 67 minutes,

"No, I definitely did not lake her (Capriati) too lightly,” Davenport said of her 3-6, 4-6 defeat in Melbourne. “I knew she was obviously playing very well after beating Seles and some other players.

"I think the pan that is disappointing is (hat when you gel that far in a tournament, and you are at the stages where the big matches are. and you don't play al your besi... I think that was the hardest part.

"1 can handle losing. I would rather loose and play well though, but I thought I could have played belter on that day.

"But. it was just an incredible story that she won. She is good friend of mine and I was very happy for her when I saw that she won the final. 1 think everybody deep down fell really happy for her," she added.

Davenport defeated world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland to win the Tokyo title in 1998, and she is probably ihe only player here who can stop ihe "Swiss Miss" from winning her third straight and fourth overall crown.

But before that, she has to beat in-form Iva Majoli of Croatia, (he 1997 French Open champion and 1996 winner here, who stormed back from match point down to beat American seventh seed Lisa Raymond 6-7 (3/7), 6-2,7-6 (7/1).

"My favourite conditions are indoors and on a fast court, so I couldn't ask for anything belter here. The main Lev is to sene well." Davenport said.

"I haven't pla\«-d l.va in a number of years, so it should be interesting. We always had really tough matches a couple of years ago.

"She is a consistent baseliner, she returns very well, so I have io be ready for some serves lo come back and just try and outhii her from ihe baseline,' she added.