Lindsay Davenport claimed the 40th singles title of her career with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Amelie Mauresmo in the final of the Amelia Island tournament on Sunday.
Fourth seed Davenport, the 1997 winner and last year's runner-up, produced some of her best form of the year to win in one hour 18 minutes.
French third seed Mauresmo had knocked out world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semi-finals on Saturday but was a pale imitation against Davenport.
Only when she was in trouble in the second set did she finally open up on her strong backhand side, saving one match point at 2-5 down before breaking back for 3-5.
Although she held serve for 4-5, Mauresmo's stand only temporarily delayed the American's victory charge.
"I'm stunned and excited," said Davenport, who collected a winner's cheque for $93,000.
"I didn't expect this because I felt I came in as the huge underdog on clay."
Davenport's desire to avoid long rallies on her least favoured surface made for a high-risk strategy, but her near perfect forehand ensured it was successful.
She held a double break in each set and, although Mauresmo hit back in each, her recent absence from the tour may have caught up with her.
The third seed was playing her first tournament since suffering a back injury at the Australian Open in January.
Davenport's run prefaces another bid for success at the French Open, which starts May 24 and is the only Grand Slam title to elude the 27-year-old.
"I know I can still hit the ball as well as many others, but I know my footwork and mobility isn't as good as a lot of the European players," Davenport said.
"But I will play at Charleston next week, have three or four weeks off and enter one more tournament before Paris to get myself really ready."
