Nikolay Davydenko Profile
Nikolay Davydenko is a controversial figure. The Russian has survived a match fixing row, and is recognised as one of the finest players on tour never to have won a grand slam event. Davydenko's inability to claim a grand slam title despite his obvious talent has earned him the reputation of being one of the biggest chokers in the game.
Davydenko is no stranger to the latter rounds of the grand slams, and has maintained his top 10 ranking partially due to the fact that he has reached the semifinals of the grand slams on several occassions, including the 2005 French Open, the 2006 US Open and the 2007 French Open.
Davydenko was also one of the few players to have beat a rampant Rafael Nadal during his impressive 2008 season, defeating Nadal in the final of the 2008 Miami Masters to take his second Masters Series title. Davydenko then won 2 more titles in the ATP tour in 2008, at the Orange Warsaw Open, and at Pöertschach.
Nikolay Davydenko made his professional debut at the Australian Open in 2001, where he lost to Patrick Rafter in the 2nd round. Thereafter the Russian concentrated on the smaller events on the ATP tour and it was only in 2005 that he began to put in a concerted effort in the Grand Slams.
His Grand Slam achievements to date:
- Davydenko reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in 2005
- The Russian 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
- Nikolay Davydenko reached the quarterfinals on clay at the 2006 French Open
- Davydenko again fell to rival, Federer, at the semifinals of the 2006 US Open
- Davydenko reached his third consecutive quarterfinal berth at the 2007 Australian Open
- He again lost to Roger Federer in the semifinals at the 2007 French Open
- Davydenko won the 2008 Miami Masters title by crushing Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-2 in the final.
Davydenko is an aggressive baseline player, moves with great speed and boasts an awesome backhand, which he uses to send opponents in the wrong direction. One of his main strengths is that he hits the ball very early, which creates power, depth and consistency. His adversaries fear his running shots, which he takes early and often turns into winners.
Unfortunately Davydenko has the tendency to lose 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.
