How will history judge Nikolay Davydenko?

Maybe you expected it, but if you didn't, no worries: I'll bet you're like about 95 percent of the tennis fans out there!

I'm referring to Nikolay Davydenko winning one of the ATP Tour's biggest stops, the Shanghai Masters. He followed up his near-classic semifinal win over Novak Djokovic with a straight-set defeat of Rafael Nadal, the top seed. This is Davydenko's fourth title of the season, all coming post-Wimbledon. I wonder if his legs are a little fresher after being sidelined in the early part of the year? (I still vote "no" on a shorter season!) But there I go again, making excuses for a Davydenko win.

You see, he regularly slips under my radar (and I don't think I'm the only one: Check out this posting at Tennis From Beyond the Baseline on that). But the fact of the matter is this: The dude can ball. Great strokes and excellent footspeed help him seriously grind down his opponents. I think he can open up a point in the middle of a rally almost as good as anyone out there.

Here's the thing, though: Why hasn't he won a Slam, or even made a Slam final.

It seems luck, mainly bad for him, has a lot to do with it. Aside from the loss to Mariano Puerta in 2005 at the French, his other pre-final runs at Majors have been ended by someone named Roger Federer. I thought this year at the French after Nadal lost that he was going to be the guy to make it to the finals from that side, but Robin Soderling blasted him.

Also, I used to have the idea that Tommy Haas was the best player in the Open era to never make a Slam final, mainly because of his career-high number-two ranking. Now I'm not so sure. Davydenko's gotten as high as number three and could realistically end his career with 30 titiles (more than two probable Hall of Famers, countrymen Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin). If there's nary a Slam final on his resume, where does that leave him and his legacy in the game?

I guess as just a footnote, if that.

http://www.tennistalkanyone.com/2009/10 … kolay.html

Denko drugiej strony u nas się dorobił. Ileż musiał wygrać, by dostąpić tego niewątpliwego zaszczytu

Davydenko presser - I'm not Safin

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Wow, so many guys coming now after semis (smiling).

Q. So you finally did it. You made it. How did you do it?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: I think that's what everybody wanting asking.

Yeah, I think all my family, everybody who support me, wait for this moment, you know, when I can beat Federer, because I beat everyone in top 10 except Federer.

Yeah, I was thinking it coming maybe 2010 or '11. But in 2009, end of the season, it's good feeling.

Q. Do you think it will be easier for you to find a sponsor now, racquet sponsor? Prince perhaps?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: It's no problem to find racquet sponsor. It's a problem play with these racquets. Because I can find sponsor. Doesn't matter, in other racquets. But if I can play like this today with other racquets, I don't know, maybe not.

That's for me it's important how I play first, not about money, how much pay for me another company. Then I losing everything, out from top 10, and then disappointment about this.

Q. There was another player of the past who was Vitas Gerulaitis.

NIKOLAY Davydenko: I was just start to thinking (smiling).

Q. You were a kid. But anyhow, he was beaten 17 times by other player called Connors.

NIKOLAY Davydenko: This guy I know.

Q. Vitas was a friend of mine. I asked him, Can you play another match? Do you think you have a chance? Gerulaitis say no. Beaten before you come to the court. You were beaten 12 times. What was your mind coming on to the court?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Really don't think about anything. Just think about, Okay, I losing, tomorrow go home, next day already Maldives. That's really my mind. Really don't care. I have no pressure.

I know I was play good. I was thinking today I want to show the same like confidence like yesterday, because I won yesterday and I really feel good. That's was happen. It really happen, my fourth match, play very well.

Q. Did you do anything different with your strategy today to the other 12 times?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: I don't know, not really. I know always play -- was for me tough play against slice against Roger. He have very good slice, and then fast backhand topspin. After slice, he play very well backhand, forehand. He have really not so many chance to make winners for me.

What I did, couple volley, some serve, and then some return, 7-5 in the third (smiling).

Q. I remember talking to you during the US Open and you said your confidence at the moment was very low. It was the match before Soderling. Talk about how your game has developed the last couple months, where it's standing right now?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Well, you speak so interesting English, I didn't understand a word.

THE MODERATOR: How has your game developed over the last three months?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Okay, now I understand, translate ATP.

After US Open, I was coming in, indoor season, practicing like preparation for indoor. Winning Kuala Lumpur. Play very well Asia. Like, okay, I lost in Beijing against Cilic, but Cilic play very well. Won Shanghai. Then come back to Europe, play also good, like Valencia semifinal. Okay, losing against Soderling in three sets Paris Bercy. Every tournament, like all five, six weeks, I show my good tennis, you know.

Now again coming here in London, all matches, like every match, I play well. That's was I am surprising myself, you know, how I do so long every week, play well, good constants [sic], and good concentration for every match.

Q. You look so happy, Nikolay. I wonder if you feel like this win is nearly better than winning the tournament?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Maybe because beat Federer, yeah, then I know I beat everyone in top 10. That's was is good feeling, really good feeling. I don't think, Now I'm No. 1 because I beat Federer. But I know now in confidence, if I beat everyone, then I can play very well. Then feeling, Why not?

Like if I come to the match, play against No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 in the world, I have chance. Is not like before match I feeling, Okay, I have 10% chance to win, and try to win. But now I was feeling, Yes, I can win match against these guys.

That's was really good confidence for sure for next year.

Q. If you play the final against Del Potro, what kind of match do you expect? What do you think about Del Potro?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Del Potro, nice guy. You know, we talking together, practicing together sometimes. He's baseline player, for sure. I remember last match in Shanghai last year, baseline. Little bit change. He start to play faster, better serve.

I don't know how he play today. I don't want to say now tomorrow I play against Del Potro. I would like to play against Del Potro tomorrow. But for sure, yesterday, Soderling show me very good tennis, and I really don't know who can win today.

Q. Is Soderling also a nice guy? And would you prefer playing him, since you beat him yesterday?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Soderling maybe nice guy. I don't speak with him so much, you know. I don't know. I have not so many contact with Sweden. But I know is not like say I'm scared against like Soderling. I know is difficult play against him. I lost many times three sets, and won in this year two times in three sets.

For sure every match against Soderling very difficult, very tough. That's was I don't really know results, what's gonna happen.

Q. You only had 15 hours before last night and today's match. How do you feel physically ahead of one more match with three sets today?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: I was tired, really tired. Between yesterday and today, I was feeling, like I say, moving little bit slow. If you don't see, it's okay. But I was feeling concentration not like every match, like every game or every point hundred percent.

We'll see tomorrow. Now I have little bit more time. For sure I want recovery hundred percent. I hope tomorrow I be fit, you know, for the final.

Q. At what time did you go to sleep yesterday?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: At 3. Because I was coming at 1, do massage, one and a half hour. But if you see, I play three times the night session. That was always the same time I go to sleep. Today I sleep just seven hours, but feeling okay really. Seven hours was enough.

Q. Sleeping alone?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Come on. I have wife. Come on, come on. What do you want, two girls, three girls, four girls?

Q. You are a Russian.

NIKOLAY Davydenko: I came Russian, but I'm not Safin (smiling).

Q. Five years in a row in the top five. Great continuity. Today is probably your best win ever. Do you still remember the bad times, two years ago, all the trouble you had with the ATP, all the stories? Is it something that you're happy about, nobody is talking about it anymore? What is your reaction to that? They were difficult times for you, no?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Because I'm really surprising how with this difficult time I made good result, you know? Because I really know it staying always in your mind, and you stay under pressure for the press, for the fans, for the people everywhere in the world. And everywhere, if I coming for tournament, press start to asking me about betting and everything stuff.

Every tournament what I played, it was very tough to play. I would like, you know, stop tennis for couple months, don't want to play. But really, I don't know, maybe I have good coach, my family really support me, give me, you know, chance, you know, just forget everything, really concentration just for the tennis, try forget very quickly everything.

That's was I did good result. I remember in America, US Open, semifinal, everything, come back. Maybe my Russian mental is very tough.

Q. Could you explain what was going through your mind when Roger pulled off the shot when you were serving at 4-5 in the third set, when you made the smash, he smashed it from the baseline? What were your thoughts at that moment?

NIKOLAY Davydenko: Yeah, like I say after Love-30, I was thinking, Federer again lucky. In 12 times he beat me. Now again in this point. Yeah, I was thinking, Not again, please. Again I can lose 6-4 in the third set.

But winning, you know, first point, then again I come back better concentration. Then I start to be lucky.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20091 … _not_Safin

Bardzo trafny tytuł, ciekawe w jaki sposób go zdetronizował, bo ani nie odebrał prowadzenia w rankingu, ani też Fed nie bronił tytułu.

#19) World Tour Finals 2009



Spotkania w grupie:
N Djokovic (SRB) d N Davydenko (RUS) 36 64 75
N Davydenko (RUS) d R Nadal (ESP) 61 76(4)
N Davydenko (RUS) d R Soderling (SWE) 76(4) 46 63
Półfinał:
N Davydenko (RUS) d R Federer (SUI) 62 46 75
Finał:
N Davydenko (RUS) d J Del Potro (ARG) 63 64

Dawidienko mistrzem ATP World Tour Finals!!!

Niemal perfekcyjny Rosjanin Nikołaj Dawidienko ograł w finale ATP World Tour Finals Argentyńczyka Juana Martina Del Potro 6:3, 6:4.

Wszyscy kibice czekający na finał zawodów w Londynie mogli się czuć trochę zawiedzeni. Głównie za sprawą tego, że Juan Martin Del Potro nie był w niedzielne popołudnie dobrze dysponowany. Jego gra wyglądała nieźle tylko przez chwilę w drugiej partii, ale niewykluczone, że stało się tak, bo Nikołaj Dawidienko mu na to pozwolił. Przy stanie 4:4 w decydującym secie Rosjanin powiedział sobie, "no dobra, czas kończyć" i w jednej chwili tak podkręcił tempo, że mecz szybko się skończył, a zmęczonemu Juanowi Martinowi Del Potro zabrakło argumentów, by mu przeszkodzić.

Dawidienko od samego początku był zdecydowanie aktywniejszy w grze ofensywnej. Grał bardzo precyzyjnie. Piłka się go słuchała, a kiedy tak było, Del Potro biegał od lewej do prawej i prawie każda wymiana kończyła się zdobyciem punktu przez rosyjskiego tenisistę.

Z kolei Juan Martin Del Potro poza mocnym serwisem pomysłu na rywala nie miał żadnego. W przekroju całego spotkania grał bardziej defensywnie. Kiedy zauważył, że Dawidienko rozrzuca piłkę z komputerową precyzją, skoncentrował się na przebijaniu, co często kończyło się tym, że jego zagrania lądowały w siatce. Można było odnieść wrażenie, że Argentyńczyk nie wierzył w to, że ogra przeciwnika, a w przerwach siedział ze zwieszoną głową.

Del Potro miał okres lepszej gry w drugiej partii, ale w dziewiątym gemie Nikołaj Dawidienko nagle wrzucił szósty bieg i odjechał po puchar World Tour Finals. Dla 28-letniego Rosjanina to największe osiągnięcie w karierze. - Dla mnie było niesamowitą rzeczą przyjechać jako siódmy zawodnik i wygrać. Sam jestem tym zaskoczony - powiedział na korcie Nikołaj Dawidienko.

http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/london-ma … tory.shtml

Marat skończony, teraz ja


- Mam nadzieję, że teraz Marat jest skończony i wszyscy [w Rosji] będą kibicować mi - powiedział Nikołaj Dawidienko po zwycięstwie nad Juanem Martinem Del Potro w finale ATP World Tour Finals.

Nikołaj Dawidienko wygrał bez większych problemów finałowy pojedynek do trzech w pierwszym secie i do czterech w drugim. Rosjanin wierzy, że po tym sukcesie kibice w kraju w końcu będą go bardziej wspierać. - Mam nadzieję, że teraz stanę się sławny w Rosji. Jest to dla mnie bardzo ważne - powiedział Dawidienko. - Byłem zawsze rozczarowany, kiedy grałem przeciwko Maratowi, a 80 procent kibiców dopingowało właśnie jego, Mam nadzieję, że teraz Marat jest skończony, a fani będą wspierać mnie - dodał.

Po sezonie rosyjski zawodnik zamierza odpocząć na Malediwach. Zarobione w Londynie pieniądze być może wyda na kupno apartamentu w Moskwie, o którym od dawna marzył.

http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/london-ma … tory.shtml

"I hope now Marat is finished everybody supports me."

http://eurosport.yahoo.com/29112009/2/d … light.html

Pewnie tak. Ale chyba powinien wyrażać się precyzyjniej, żeby nie dochodziło do nadinterpretacji jego słów.

Davydenko ready to pick up where he left off a month ago

Davydenko ready to pick up where he left off a month ago Nikolay Davydenko is due for arrival in the Gulf at mid-week rested and refreshed from his Maldive island holiday and ready to start this 2010 season at the Capitala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The No. 6 Russian will compete beginning at the second edition of the special event in a six-man field headed by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

That top pairing will have a lighter workload the the three-day showcase, with the Nos. 1 and 2 awaiting semi-final opponents from the four other contenders in the field - Swiss Stan Wawrinka, 2008 Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, French Open finalist Robin Soderling and Davydenko.

"After some time out I feel pretty refreshed and am now very much looking forward to getting back on the court again and returning to the form I showed towards the end of the season,” said Davydenko, who lost the Abu Dhabi semi-final to Nadal a year ago.

In 2009, the 28-year-old captured five ATP World Tour titles in a season for second time in his career (2006), capped by winning his biggest career title in London just over a month ago.

Davydenko faces Tsonga on New Year's eve in the emirate while Wawrinka plays Soderling in the afternoon's second match.

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20091 … _month_ago

#20) Doha 2010



R32 M.Kukushkin    6-2 6-0
R16 M.Chiudinelli   6-3 6-4
QF  I.Karlovic(7)   7-6 7-6
SF  R.Federer(1)   6-4 6-4
W   R.Nadal(2)     0-6 7-6 6-4

Ostatnio edytowany przez Fed-Expresso (09-01-2010 20:55:40)