By N.D. Prashant/Doha
Roger Federer and Nikolay Davydenko in action during their respective semi-final matches in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open yesterday. The duo will clash in the final today
Those who had hoped for a ‘Dream Final’ at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open between World No 1 Rafael Nadal and all-time men’s grand-slam singles title leader Roger Federer were left disheartened at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex yesterday.
And the man who dashed their hopes was defending champion Nikolay Davydenko. The Russian was in sensational form last evening as he showed Nadal the door with a straight set 6-3, 6-2 victory.
The packed crowd at the stadium also marvelled at another spectacular display of world-class tennis action in the first semifinal, where Swiss ace Federer made light work of Frenchman and third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (2). Coincidentally, both matches lasted an hour and 24 minutes each.
When you are playing against the world’s best you have to break him early and Davydenko did just that in the third game. Nadal, known for his immense fighting qualities, however, came roaring back into the set by breaking back in the next game.
The Spaniard was once again in trouble in the eighth game, and though he managed to bail himself out of two break points, failed to stop Davydenko on the third. With the lead widened to 5-3, all that Davydenko had to do was hold on to his serve in the ninth to clinch the first set.
Buoyed by the lead, Davydenko completely dominated Nadal in the second set. With breaks in the first, third and fifth games, the fourth seed took a 5-0 lead. But just when it seemed that it would be all over for the Nadal, he renewed hopes of making a dramatic comeback by holding his serve in the sixth and saved two match points before breaking Davydenko in the seventh game.
However, the Russian, who had defeated Nadal in the 2010 final here in Doha, then ensured things don’t slip away by sealing the set and match by holding his serve in the eighth game.
“I was feeling good out there, but I’m surprised because I’m in the final. Maybe I’m surprising myself, because it’s pretty tough with players like Federer, Nadal and Tsonga being here,” said Davydenko.
“I’m not in the top 10 now, and you know, for me this is a tough tournament. Today, I beat the No. 1. I know last year he was in good form. I don’t know, today he was different. For sure he was not in his best form.
“Normally he’s much tougher and plays very stronger. I don’t mean tennis; I mean physically. He was completely tired running, fighting for points,” added Davydenko.
In the first semi-final, a flawless Federer broke Tsonga in the second game before taking a 5-2 lead. He then held his serve at love in the ninth game to win the first set easily at 6-3.
The Frenchman was far more purposeful in his approach in the second, but with Federer serving well, the former had very little opportunity of gaining ground. Whether it was the serve, volley or the trademark deft slices, they all came with precision from the maestro’s racquet.
In the second set, Tsonga survived two break points in the third game and was also involved in some long rallies. But with Federer playing so well on his serve all that Tsonga could manage was to force the match into the tie-break by somehow holding his serve. After that Federer just steamrolled Tsonga with an array of shots and won the set and match without further trouble. In the doubles final, Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez of