NEW YORK - The way Lindsay Davenport was talking 16 months ago, she should be home in California now, enjoying married life and the beach while the next generation of tennis carries on.

Or maybe not.

The notion of Davenport retiring looks sillier with each tournament she plays. She regained the No. 1 ranking with a victory in nearby New Haven, Conn., on Saturday, and is a favorite again to win her fourth Grand Slam title when the U.S. Open begins Monday.

"It's not even in my vision to stop," she said Sunday. "Obviously, it's going to happen sooner or later one day. But while I'm playing well and if you have chances to win Grand Slams, it's obviously extremely difficult to walk away and feel like you've left anything on the table or unfinished.

"So while I'm healthy and playing well, enjoying it, feel like I'm contending, I'm going to keep on playing."

The 29-year-old turned pro back in 1993, and various injuries have taken their toll. She missed big chunks of the 2001-03 seasons, and her frustration was clear when she talked about retiring at the end of the year after losing to Maria Sharapova in the 2004 Wimbledon semifinals.

But a funny thing happened. Davenport took off on a dazzling run, won five titles and climbed back to No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She finished the year with a tour-best 63-9 record and seven titles.

She's been equally impressive this year, reaching the finals at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon and holding the No. 1 ranking for all but a week. Though she missed almost two months with a back injury, she won the New Haven tournament without dropping a set.

"A couple of wins there (on the WTA Tour) gave me a lot of confidence to keep going, and I've kind of sustained that confidence," she said. "I work way harder now than at any point in my career, off the court, and I feel like that, all of a sudden, came into play quite a bit. I enjoy it more now. I don't know if that's because I came to the realization that I might be without it soon, or came to the realization that I better enjoy the last few years, however long they last."

While retirement is no longer in her immediate future, Davenport does want to win another Grand Slam title. She's won Wimbledon and the U.S. and Australian opens, but it's been five years since she won her last major.

Before this year's Australian, where she lost to Serena Williams, Davenport hadn't made a Grand Slam final since her 2000 win in Melbourne.

"I put in a huge effort to try and win a Grand Slam again," she said. "I've gotten close twice this year and it hasn't happened, so I just keep plugging away in hopes that will happen."

Her latest quest gets under way Tuesday. Among the Day 1 highlights are top-seeded Maria Sharapova and Andre Agassi playing under the stars at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Serena and Venus Williams and French Open champion Rafael Nadal were to play day matches on center court. Kim Clijsters, who leads the WTA Tour with six titles, and defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova had morning matches.

Defending champion Roger Federer, who has won his last 22 finals, starts play Tuesday. Former champion Marat Safin, seeded fifth, withdrew Sunday due to an ongoing problem with his left knee. Safin gave Federer one of his three losses this year, beating him in the semifinals on the way to winning the Australian Open.

Safin's place in the draw will be taken by lucky loser Bjorn Phau of Germany.

If Davenport can stay healthy for the next two weeks, the Open might be her best chance for another Grand Slam title. Sharapova hasn't played in three weeks after straining a muscle a chest. French champion Justine Henin-Hardenne was slowed by a hamstring injury in July, and has played only one tournament since Wimbledon.

Kuznetsova was hampered by a back injury in an early loss in Toronto. Serena Williams was sidelined by an ankle injury for much of the year. Big sis Venus has only played twice since her Wimbledon victory.

"What I think right now doesn't matter. We will see that on the court," Henin-Hardenne said when asked if she's played enough to make a real run here. "I think I'm ready for this."

One person who is definitely ready is Clijsters. The Belgian is 49-6 this year, and has won a WTA Tour-best six titles. Her victory over Henin-Hardenne in Toronto two weeks ago was her fifth on the hard courts this year.

Though Clijsters is only 22, her chances to win a Grand Slam title are narrowing, too. She's had her share of injuries, and says she probably will retire after two more seasons.

There's a life out there after tennis, and Clijsters wants to be healthy enough to enjoy it.

"There's a time in my life for everything," she said. "I'm looking forward for the next two years, and then I'll look forward to the next part of my life after my career. ... There's going to be a lot of other opportunities for me out there and a lot of other things to do."