Nikolay Davydenko - Australian Open Men's Tennis Players
Russian Nikolay Davydenko is a mixed bag of tricks. He has recently hit the notoriety stakes by being implicated in a match-fixing row, which the ATP is currently investigating. He is also a very poor closer and has, on several occasions, had his opponent against the ropes, but has been unable to go in for the "kill".
The 27-year-old is currently ranked no.5 in the world, and although he has not yet lifted his first Grand Slam title, he has shown huge ability by reaching the semifinals at the 2005 French Open, the 2006 US Open and the 2007 French Open.
He also won his second ATP masters tournament at the Miami Masters in 2008, against World Number 1 Rafael Nadal. He won 2 more titles in the ATP tour in 2008, at the Orange Warsaw Open, and at Pöertschach.
He made his professional debut at the Australian Open in 2001, where he lost to Patrick Rafter in the 2nd round. He concentrated on the ATP tour and it was only in 2005 that he began concentrating on the Grand Slams of world tennis.
His Grand Slam achievements to date:
- He reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2005
- He reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in 2005, elevating him into the Top 10
- He lost to Roger Federer in four closely contested sets, at the quarterfinals of the 2006 Australian Open
- He reached the quarterfinals on clay at the 2006 French Open
- He again fell to rival, Federer, at the semifinals of the 2006 US Open
- He reached his third consecutive quarterfinal berth at the 2007 Australian Open
- He again tumbled to Roger Federer in the semifinals at the 2007 French Open
- He impressed by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, his least preferred surface
- He reached the fourth round of the Australian Open 2008, eventually being defeated by fellow Russian, Mikhail Youzhny.
- He won the Miami Master 2008, crushing Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-2.
Davydenko is an aggressive baseline player, moves with great speed and boasts an awesome backhand, which keeps his opponents hopping. One of his main strengths is that he hits the ball very early, ala Agassi, which creates power, depth and consistency. His adversaries will best remember his running shots, which he takes early and often turns into winners.
What will make punters think is that he often loses matches after being comfortably ahead. He has had the likes of James Blake, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on the back foot on more than one occasion, but has allowed them to sneak back in and snatch victory.
If Nikolay Davydenko, Australian Open men's tennis player, can remedy this, then he surely has a chance of winning his first Grand Slam at the 2009 Australian Open.
Do you know which of this year's Australian Open men's tennis players are heading for the finals? If so, then you make be successful at tennis betting.
