Frenchwoman Mauresmo bowed out with a strained abductor muscle in her left leg after Davenport had taken the opening set 6-2. Victory for world number two Davenport closed the gap on Mauresmo in the rankings to just 15 points.
Top seed Mauresmo was 3-1 down when she called for the trainer, leaving the court for several minutes before returning with her leg heavily strapped.
"The injury happened in the third game," she said. "I felt a pain like a knife. I thought with the bandage it would hold, but I couldn't move any more and had to stop.
"I don't know how long it will affect me... There's a certain weakness. We'll have to see what happens in the next few days.
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The world number one lost a marathon opening game lasting eight minutes. Davenport, who had returned well and shown a willingness to come to the net, then held to love before stretching Mauresmo again in the third game.
Mauresmo finally held serve on her fourth game point and then had an opportunity to get into the match when she held a break point in the fourth game. Davenport held off the threat in style, hitting a crosscourt winner.
Mauresmo held to love on her return from treatment but after losing the final two games of the set to love she gave up the battle after 38 minutes.
"It's very unfortunate, but I could tell at 2-1 she was having a hard time moving," said Davenport.
"I'm pretty sure I've never won a final in this manner. It's quite an empty feeling. It would have felt more satisfying beating the number one properly."