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Saturday October 3, 2009

Resolute Russian Davydenko battles into semis along with other top seeds

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia withstood seven aces and overcame a 1-3 deficit in the second set to knock out Gael Monfils of France as the top four seeds lived up to expectations to reach the semi-finals of the Proton Malay­sian Open tennis championships at Putra Stadium last night.

Davydenko beat fifth seed Monfils 6-3, 6-3 in 73 minutes and will now take on third seed Robin Soderling of Sweden in what will be a re-match of their fourth round encounter in last month’s US Open.

Soderling, this year’s runner-up in the French Open behind Roger Federer, had earlier crushed sixth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2 to book his place in the last four.

Davydenko was happy to get the better of Monfils, who snapped a four-year title drought by lifting the Moselle de Open in Metz on Sunday.

“The first set I played well. In the second set, my serve was not good and my forehand was slow but I came back, which is good. I hope to continue playing well in the semis,” said Davydenko, who is looking for his third title on the ATP World Tour this year.

Success on Sunday would put him in a very good position to qualify for the eight-man field at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London next month.

Davydenko finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in last year’s World Tour Finals in Shanghai.

The Russian said he would have to stay focused all the time when he faces Soderling today.

“I lost to him in Paris and the US Open this year. I would say it’s going to be a difficult game against him. He likes to play fast and he serves good. He plays long and fast and it’s difficult to play him from the baseline,” said Davydenko.

Another exciting semi-final confrontation tonight will be between the two Fernandos – second seed Verdasco of Spain taking on fourth seed Gonzalez of Chile.

World No. 12 Gonzalez dismissed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-4 in 80 minutes while world No. 9 Verdasco came from 0-3 down to beat Richard Gasquet of France 7-5, 6-4 in a 91-minute match that was watched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Gonzalez, taken to three sets in the second round by Indian qualifier Rohan Bopanna on Thursday, put up a polished performance against Youzhny.

“I think it was a good match for me. I served really well and moved a lot better than yesterday (Thursday).

“I had many break chances in the second set but could not break him as I was nervous at first.

“But, overall, I am happy with the match,” said Gonzalez, one of the crowd favourites.

Results

Singles quarter-finals: Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) bt Gael Monfils (Fra) 6-3, 6-3; Robin Soderling (Swe) bt Tomas Berdych (Cze) 6-2, 6-2;

Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) bt Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) 6-3, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco (Spa) bt Richard Gasquet (Fra) 7-5, 6-4.

Today's semifinals:

2.30pm: Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) vs Robin Soderling (Swe);

Followed by Igor Kunitsyn-Jaroslav Levinsky (Cze) vs Stephen Huss-Scott Lipsky (Aus-US).

7pm: Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) vs Fernando Verdasco (Spa);

Followed by Mariusz Fyrstenberg-Marcin Matkowski (Pol) vs Martin Damm-Robert Lindstedt (Cze-Swe).

* All matches live on Astro Channel 816

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