Match report

Nikolay Davydenko © Tennistalk.com
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo
Semi final
4/26/08 1 2 Tot
ru  Nikolay Davydenko 3 2 0
es  Rafael Nadal 6 6 2
Rafael Nadal © Tennistalk.com

  • Rafael Nadal breezes into his fourth straight Monte Carlo final

    4/26/08 5:23 PM | Cheryl Murray
    Clay king Rafael Nadal rolls over Nikolay Davydenko in two to set up the now traditional final of Nadal vs. Federer.

    As was true of his quarter-final victory, this match was not as easy for Rafael Nadal as the scoreline suggests. Nikolay Davydenko had numerous opportunities to level the second set on Nadal's serve, but Nadal is the consummate fighter, and he proved that yet again.

    The first set was routine for Nadal. He held serve without trouble and gladly accepted the double fault Davydenko offered on his first break point in the match at 1-1. As if he wanted to prove a point, Nadal also broke the Russian's serve at 3-5 to take the first set. The crowd seemed almost surprised that the set was over so quickly.

    Davydenko raised his level of play in the second set. He made an obvious effort to aim for the Nadal backhand, which is by far the weaker of his two sides. Particularly on clay, Nadal's topspin forehand is lethal. He has a huge margin of error and can place it quite deep with pinpoint accuracy. His backhand is a different matter. Most often he hits with two hands, and the ball has a tendency to land much shorter than his forehand. Davydenko saw it as an obvious target and went after it.

    The second set was a study in service breaks. Nadal broke early at 1-2, but was broken right back in his next service game. Nadal, not to be outdone, broke back again at 2-3, aided by an unfortunate double fault from Davydenko on the third deuce of the game. Nadal struggled yet again at 4-2; a game the featured five deuce points, three break chances for Davydenko and three game points for Nadal before he finally held for 5-2. A downcast Davydenko put in a half-hearted effort in his last service game, and Nadal took the match at 6-2. He will play against Roger Federer in the finals of Monte Carlo for the third time in a row.

  • Thumbs up

    Both players fought hard in the second set. Davydenko forced Nadal to hone his forehand. Though the scoreling doesn't show it, the set was competitive for the most part.

  • Thumbs down

    Davydenko played poorly on important points and handed breaks of serve to Nadal with bad errors and even some double faults.

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