updated 4:23 p.m. ET July 2, 2005

WIMBLEDON, England - Lindsay Davenport blinked back tears while Venus Williams lifted the Wimbledon trophy in front of her on Centre Court for the second time.

The 1999 champion, Davenport was one point from adding a second Wimbledon title to her collection. Instead, she lost 4-6, 7-6 (4), 9-7 in the women’s final Saturday.

“I felt like I played great,” Davenport said. “There are not many times when I feel like I’ve played well and I haven’t won. So that’s where I give her a lot of credit. I don’t have anything to be ashamed about. But it’s tough when you work so hard to achieve something like this and it just doesn’t quite work out.”

The 29-year-old Davenport, who was mulling retirement at this time last year, was seeking her first major title since 2000. She’s now a two-time Grand Slam runner-up this year — she lost in the Australian Open final to Serena Williams.

Davenport, who had won her previous four meetings with Venus Williams, has never beaten her at Wimbledon.

“Ultimately, people look at it like, oh, it’s a disappointment because two Grand Slam finals and didn’t win,” Davenport said. “I look at it like I’ve done everything I can. I’m playing better now than I have in years.”

Williams won despite 10 double-faults and some shaky early play. She hit 49 winners to 30 for Davenport, who converted only four of 12 break-point chances.

“Even after losing the second, I felt like, God, this is a good match and wow, she really played well to win that set,” Davenport said. “She just was incredible. Whenever I felt like I was just about to shut the door completely, it was like, ’Oops, let’s open that back up.”’

At 2 hours, 45 minutes, the match was the longest Wimbledon women’s final on record.

Davenport’s back tightened and bothered her for several games midway through the final set, and she required treatment from a trainer when leading 4-3.

“It never got worse and it didn’t detract from my tennis,” Davenport said. “I don’t feel it cost me the match.”

Davenport reached championship point while leading 5-4 in the third set, but Williams kept the match alive with a backhand winner.

“The point went by so fast,” Davenport said. “Wham, bam, it was over.”

Another backhand winner by Williams made the set 5-all. She won a 14-shot rally to break for 8-7, then held to close out the victory.

Davenport now looks ahead to the U.S. Open, where she won the first of her three major titles in 1998. She also won the 2000 Australian Open.

“Hopefully this will encourage me to keep going this summer,” she said.

Last year, after losing to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in the semifinals, Davenport left Wimbledon saying she probably wouldn’t return. Not this time.

“I hope to be back,” she said. “I improved on a semifinal. Maybe next year I can improve on this.”

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