Match report

Simone Bolelli © Tennistalk.com
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo
2nd round
4/23/08 1 2 Tot
it  Simone Bolelli 2 6 5 0
ru  Nikolay Davydenko 6 7 7 2
Nikolay Davydenko © Tennistalk.com

  • In-Form Davydenko Survives Bolelli

    4/23/08 8:45 PM | Ricky Dimon
    Nikolay Davydenko retired with an injury in his Estoril title match last week against Roger Federer, but he is looking good in Monte-Carlo. He blew a big lead over Simone Bolelli on Wednesday, but held on for the win.

    Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko defeated unseeded challenger Simone Bolelli for the second time in as many months, winning 6-2, 7-6(5) in the second round of the Masters Series Monte-Carlo. It could have been easier, but Davydenko has to feel good about getting the job done after coming off a disappointing end to last week's campaign in Estoril, where he retired in the final to Roger Federer.

    Davydenko came out on fire, showing the same form that carried him to a surprising title at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last month. He broke serve in the opening game of the match and secured another early break of serve to lead 4-1. At that point Bolelli hinted of making things close by returning the favor, but Davydenko quickly broke the Italian once again and proceeded to serve out the set.

    The second set appeared to be going in exactly the same fashion, as Davydenko broke serve at 1-1 and then broke again for yet another 4-1 advantage. Out of nowhere, however, Bolelli suddenly caught fire. He ran off four straight games with awesome combinations of forehands and drop-shots, leaving a previously-invincible Davydenko stunned. Davydenko, however, managed to hold serve comfortably at 4-5 and the set eventually progressed to a tiebreaker. The Russian's experience began to show as he surged to a quick advantage, but he double-faulted on his first match-opportunity. Nevertheless he recovered on the next point to clinch the match with one of his typical cross-court passing shots.

    Davydenko moves on to the third round, where he will face 16th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber. The German holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge over Davydenko, including 1-0 on clay.

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