New Haven, August 27:

Lindsay Davenport will regain the women’s world No 1 ranking after beating Anna Chakvetadze of Russia 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Pilot Pen final against Amelie Mauresmo.

Davenport had been No 1 since October until this week when Maria Sharapova claimed the top spot for the first time. Sharapova didn’t play this week, and Davenport had to make the final to become No 1 again in Monday’s new rankings. Davenport cruised past Chakvetadze in about an hour, while Mauresmo survived a three-hour marathon with Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues, winning 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.

In men’s action, Romania’s Victor Hanescu rallied past Tommy Robredo 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 to reach

his first semi-finals of the year. Hanescu will meet James Blake, who served 12 aces in 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 win over Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina. With four Spania-rds in the quarters of an ATP hardcourt event for the first time since 2002, a second lost when Feliciano Lopez defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 1-6, 6-2. Lopez will play for a spot in the final against David Ferrer, who beat Igor Andreev of Russia 6-3, 6-4 for the first time in three meetings. Ferrer, playing in his fifth semi-final of the season, has never met Lopez.