Savvy Davy Reaches Quarter

Savvy Davy Reaches Quarters
by Erin Bruehl
Wednesday, September 6, 2006

When the skies opened up to pour rain on Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, the fourth-round match between Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Murray had just finished the third set, with Davydenko holding a two-sets-to-one advantage.

Murray was struggling with his first serves but had managed to rally and win the second set from Davydenko after the Russian easily won the first set and before Davydenko bounced back to win the third.

Almost 24 hours later, the fourth set began, but Murray could not rally again, falling to Davydenko, 6-0, in the fourth set, as the No. 7 seed took the match, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

For Davydenko, it is his fifth career Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance and his first-ever quarterfinal appearance at the US Open. He lost in the second round last year in Flushing.

He will play either Marat Safin or Tommy Haas in the quarterfinals.

Heading into his second US Open (and his first as a seeded player), the 19-year-old Murray has had quite a season, advancing to the round of 16 at Wimbledon, including a defeat of Andy Roddick in straight sets in the third round. And his highlight of highlights this summer was defeating world No. 1 Roger Federer in the second round at AMS Cincinnati – the only man besides Rafael Nadal to beat Federer so far this year.

But No. 17 Murray could not keep the magic going vs. Davydenko – even with the crowd behind him – as his inability to convert even 50 percent of his first serves in the match hurt him, converting just 47 percent.

Davydenko looked like the veteran in the first set, winning in just 27 minutes, as Murray completed just 43 percent of his first serves. And he was able to convert just 3-of-12 break points for the match vs. Davydenko.

But Murray fought back in the second set, scoring his first break of Davydenko in the third game when after a long baseline rally, a Davydenko forehand shot went wide. Davydenko then broke Murray in the 10th game to tie it at 5-5, and Murray then went ahead, 6-5, on another break and held his serve in the 12th game for the set with a fist pump and cheers from the crowd.

Murray started strong in the third set, as well, breaking Davydenko and holding his serve to go up 2-0, but Murray would win just one more game in the set, holding his serve in the eighth as Davydenko was in control, continuing to hit well-placed shots, with winners to the corners and lines. For the match, Davydenko had 38 winners to just 19 for Murray, despite committing 53 unforced errors to 43 for Murray.

But Murray’s serving struggles continued in the fourth set Wednesday, and he was not able to hold serve once, including double-faulting the third game to Davydenko.

Match Facts
- Davydenko has won three titles in 2006, his most for a single season.
- Davydenko also reached the quarterfinals this year at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
- Murray was the US Open boys' champion in 2004.
- Murray won his first title at San Jose in February, defeating Andy Roddick in the semifinals and Lleyton Hewitt in the final.