Davydenko conquers Nadal, Miami
For what seems like the last year, the only time we have heard Nikolay Davydenko’s it has been associated with gambling and match-fixing. It’s about time that he is in the news for his on-court accomplishments. Heading into this tournament, Davydenko certainly wasn’t the favorite. Throughout the tournament he still wasn’t the favorite. He faced match points in the second round, played with only ONE RACKET, and very nearly fell to Mario Ancic in the fourth round (before winning 7-5 in the third).
Certainly, Davydenko is the best player you never hear about. He doesn’t have the muscles of Nadal, the good looks of Roddick, or the grace of Federer. When he walks around the grounds, hoards of people don’t follow him around seeking his autograph. He’s quiet, plays hard, and stoic. He doesn’t get flustered on the court and rarely cracks a smile. He is the “working-man” of the ATP Tour.
I think if there was one word to describe his play, it would be solid. His serve and groundstrokes are as solid and consistent as anyone on the tour. He moves very well, his two-handed backhand is excellent, and his ability to take the ball early and hit it flat was the big difference in this match. He kept Nadal off-balance, and made him uncomfortable throughout his 6-4, 6-2 victory.
After watching Davydenko beat Roddick the way he did, I thought if he played at that level against Nadal he would certainly have a very good chance. I still think if he got into a third set against Nadal, that this match could have went the other day. But it didn’t, and Davydenko won. I want to compliment Davydenko for the way he went about his business in this match, and didn’t let the elements (wind, crowd) effect him. It is really a testament to his ability and skill level.
Finally, I think it’s important that we give credit to Mario Ancic. He played Davydenko the best of anyone, which really shows you how good Ancic is. The guy was ranked in the top 10 not too long ago, and after missing pretty much all of 2007 he is looking like the player he once was. He is already back around #50 in the world, and I think he is very capable of getting back into the top 20 before the end of the year. Watch out for him!!
In case you missed the Davydenko/Nadal match here are the highlights:
Leave a Reply