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1/25/10 7:27 AM | Ricky Dimon
Nikolay Davydenko survives a five-set battle to beat Fernando Verdasco on Monday in Melbourne. Davydenko will face either Roger Federer or Lleyton Hewitt in the quarterfinals.
Nikolay Davydenko continued his winning streak on Monday afternoon, but not before a rare struggle.
Davydenko survived an erratic match to defeat Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 7-5, 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-3 in the fourth round of the Australian Open. The veteran Russian needed three hours and 57 minutes to set up a quarterfinal showdown with either Roger Federer or Lleyton Hewitt.
The first set quickly turned into a rout when Verdasco completely fell apart after four games. The Spaniard put in a dismal 32 percent of his first serves throughout the opening frame of play and he struck just one aces against four double-faults. He also sprayed 17 unforced errors while connecting on only six winners. As a result, Verdasco surrendered serve at 2-2 and again at 2-4 before Davydenko served out the set with ease.
Davydenko dropped serve to fall behind 2-0 in the second, but he capitalized on a listless service game by his opponent to immediately get back on level terms. Verdasco took care of his serve from there en route to 5-5, but another wave of unforced errors and double-faults soon proved costly. The world No. 9, who double-faulted four more times in set two while committing 16 errors, got broken at 5-5 and promptly lost the set one game later.
A back-and-forth third set seemed to be on the way to a similar result when Verdasco once again threw away a break advantage. The No. 9 seed started to produce by far his best tennis of the day and he consolidated an early break until serving at 4-2. Davydenko suddenly struck to get back on serve and regain the momentum, but he produced a dreadful service game at 4-5. A double-fault at 30-30 followed by a wild forehand gave Verdasco the set and extended Davydenko to a fourth for the first time in the tournament.
If the third set was unpredictable, the fourth was an absolute roller coaster. Verdasco came up with some impressive shot-making to seize an initial break, but he imploded with a chance to force a fifth set at 5-3. Two points from the set at 30-15, Verdasco double-faulted, dumped a sitting forehand in the net, then double-faulted again to lose serve out of nowhere. Three shaky service holds later, a tiebreaker was necessary to decide things.
Tension-marred play continued in the 'breaker. Davydenko gave back a mini-break lead on three different occasions, all as a result of unforced errors. At 5-5, Verdasco stole a critical return point with some amazing defense, and he forced an improbable fifth set with a service winner at 6-5.
The underdog had plenty of opportunities to stay on a roll and take a lead early in the final frame of play, but he missed three break points in the opening game. Verdasco then earned two game points while serving at 2-3, but Davydenko started to improve both his body language and his play and the No. 6 seed broke for a 4-2 advantage. At long last, a set turned actually turned out to be straightforward. Davydenko took care of his next two service games with ease to tough out the victory.
Although the Russian came up with rock-solid tennis when he needed it, he was the beneficiary of a ridiculous 20 double-faults and 81 unforced errors off the racket of Verdasco. Davydenko finished with 37 winners against 51 mistakes.
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davy nearly did his usual grand slam choke job.
but verdasco was with his girlfriend camilla belle
attackingtennisrulez , 1/25/10 8:18 AM
Maldives are close, so I guess sourness from losing the match will disappear quickly :)
rfzr , 1/25/10 8:28 AM
luckystar,
I don't think Davy has much of a chance against Fed. It does seem as though we are just skipping over Hewitt. He is playing well now, but I just don't think he will be able to get it done against Fed. So jumping ahead to Fed against Davy, after what I saw today, let me just say that I was not impressed. If Davy had trouble against Verdasco and his gazillion double faults and unforced errors, then what should we expect against Fed? Well, one thing's for sure. Fed will NOT have those kind of stats. That's why I think it's always dangerous to assume too much from early round matches. Sure Davy was breezing against lesser opponents. But look at how he started to crumble when he met up with a top ten player.
In that fourth set tiebreak, Davy had the match on his racket! He blew the tiebreak and then was forced to play a fifth set. He will not get those chances against the likes of Fed. Watching Davy, I could understand why he has never won a grand slam. He can beat the top players in the smaller tournaments in a best two out of three, but in a grand slam where it's best three out of five, he can't get it done.
He may give Fed some trouble, but I just don't think he will be able to win. I don't think conditioning will be a factor. Even when Fed isn't playing his best tennis, he is so mentally tough, such a fighter, able to raise his level of play at the crucial points in a match, that I don't see Davy overcoming all of those advantages.
Nativenewyorker , 1/25/10 8:50 AM
NNY - I didn't say that Davy will sure win. He definitely has chances. He was clearly bothered by the heat and was irritated with himself for not taking his chances in the tie-break. I'm impressed that he still hung in there in the fifth set and finally won it, unlike in the past where he might just give up. The way to beat Davy is to over power him. It's just that Verdasco, and also Rafa, have to do it consistently in order to beat Davy, and the two of them didn't finish the job (at AO and at Doha). From their recent two encounters, I didn't see Fed trying to overpower Davy, maybe Fed wasn't at his best then. He certainly needs to be at his best to beat Davy, as I think Davy will be all fired up when he meets Fed.
luckystar , 1/25/10 9:06 AM
Davydenko said in his interview with Mats after the math that he doesn't build up much confidence in a GS because he plays everyday every other day and it's hard to build momentum so he prefers small tournaments, in a nutshell. He said he would prefer to play Federer rather than Hewitt because the crowd support would be overwhelming for Hewitt whereas with Federer is would be 50/50.
There is only one Rafael Nadal
Vamos
carrie , 1/25/10 9:07 AM
Davy can definitely win against Fed, that's for sure. If Fed's forehand goes astray and he gets frustrated with the million balls coming back from Davy, it's very possible that Fed will lose. Hope Fed watches the Verda-Denko match if he wins against Hewitt and come up with the correct game plan to beat Davy.
torres9 , 1/25/10 10:22 AM
I'm sure that davydenko can't beat Federer in a GRAND SLAM .
pnp , 1/25/10 10:55 AM
torres,federer played really well today against hewitt.i think you should go and watch that match to give you some energy.fed's movement is excellent and his forehand AND backhand were the best I have seen him in a long time. and it was "only" the fourth round. Dont worry. He'll step it up even more. He knows what he is doing.There is no doubt that the QF's are just keeping everyone alive with excitement right now. It's the right result for the top players to be heading into the quarters. I think this is the first time davy been taken to a fifth set in a slam? he did well, but looked "poofed" at the end of it, asking Jim currier for a "hug". I think he is enjoying the limelight. Fed's forehand is not going to go astray at this stage,he has changed his tactics and with his new racquet is much more powerful shot.(is that possible?).
maxi , 1/25/10 12:43 PM
if davy plays the way he has been before the verdasco match and does NOT get nervous, then davy in 4 sets.
if davy plays like in the verdasco match and GETS nervous and tight, then federer in 3 sets.
davy should have beaten federer in the 2007 french open semi, but got nervous and tight and choked it away as usual.
if this NEW davy comes with all guns blazing, then federer wont know what hit him.
i think davy's time has come.
attackingtennisrulez , 1/25/10 1:16 PM
No way, man. YOu already said twice to "bookmark it" Davy will win. Why starting to back down now? Even you know you're full of it, which is why you won't take me up on my offer. Like all know-it-alls, you back down the first time someone steps up on you.
SenorPlaid , 1/25/10 1:55 PM
Davy will surely be extra motivated to beat Federer, and also considering this Russian's development, it will be a super tight match before he finally beats the number one.
ssyahdan , 1/25/10 2:37 PM
Federer will win against davy.
He is ready.
Senor,dont play into atr's jaws.It's pointless.
He doesnt know what he is saying most of the time.It's just nonsense.smile sweetly and move on to proper conversation with proper tennis fans.this person doesnt have intelligent conversation or know a lot about tennis.Lives in the past.
I would like some discussion please with predictions on rafa nadal and andy murray? Rafa fans, do you really believe that rafa is going to lose to murray tomorrow? I dont. I think he is playing super well and is playing down his chances in press conferences, but he is an amazing player. A lot is on the line, of course, but Rafa is out there to win.
maxi , 1/25/10 2:56 PM
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kuleshs , 7/14/10 12:56 AM
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Nikolay Davydenko 
The match was not of very good quality, with Verdasco having 20 or 21 double faults and tons of unforced errors. Davy didn't play well too, he won the first two sets because of how badly Verdasco played. Davy should have won the fourth set but played poorly in the tie-break.
I think Davy is bothered by the heat more than the long match. Most likely he will meet Fed in the QF. It will be a night match so will be better for Davy. I think Davy should be able to recover physically in time for the QF, as he only played one five set match so far. Who knows how many sets Fed has to play tonight, so I don't think Davy will be at any disadvantage when facing Fed. Should be a good QF if Fed gets there as well.
luckystar , 1/25/10 7:56 AM