Davydenko Takes Vengeance on Robredo for Safin

June 02, 2005

Davydenko Takes Vengeance on Robredo for Safin

Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko reached semi-finals after defeating Marat Safin’s offender Tommy Robredo of Spain in the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium June 1, 2005. Davydenko won 3-6 6-1 6-2 4-6 6-4.
-->Similar to the match played by Davydenko vs. Guillermo Coria (Arg), when he lost five games running, Davydenko was able to find his game only after the poor start. In the first set, Robredo was fast enough to hit all balls, while Davydenko lacked accuracy. In the second set, however, Davydenko started playing as he had never done before. After racing through the second and the third sets, probably the best sets in his life, Davydenko was leading 4:3 in the fourth one. The only thing he had to do was to be sure at his serve. No one knows how Robredo rediscovered the form but he broke the rhythm, having taken three games running.

In the decisive set, Robredo was psychologically stronger, buoyed up by the audience. Although Davydenko won the first two games, it looked as if Marat Safin’s history would repeat itself. Robredo took the break and equaled the sore. But Davydenko survived to lead 5:3 with the first match ball at Robredo’s serve. There were three match balls in the ninth game overall, all heroically opposed by the Spaniard. But Davydenko finally came through in the tense battle.

In the semi-finals, Davydenko will play Mariano Puerta who knocked out his fellow Argentine’s Guillermo Canas. -->

by www.kommersant.com
Russian Article as of June 02, 2005