2011 Kooyong AAMI Classic: Nikolay Davydenko to meet Lleyton Hewitt in the semis
Putting in some practice before the prestigious Australian Open, eight selected superstars of tennis are currently playing at the exhibition event in Melbourne, the 2011 Kooyong AAMI Classic. An invitation only event, the tournament comprises only of singles
matches and is played at the famous Kooyong Stadium in the Australian city.
Having won their first round matches at the event, Russian marvel Nikolay Davydenko plays number one Aussie Lleyton Hewitt in the semi-final match on Thursday.
Playing at his second event of the year, Davydenko started off 2011 defending his title at the 2011 Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. Pitted against the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, Davydenko had been seeded fourth in the main draw. Moving past
three opponents, Davydenko was able to setup a semi-final clash with the world number one Nadal whom he defeated to move ahead and meet Federer in the final. Davydenko however, failed to defend his title losing it to the Swiss maestro.
Suffering one of his worst seasons since 2005, Davydenko finished 2010 ranked 22nd in the world though he had begun the year ranked in the top ten. Ranked sixth in January 2010, Davydenko had enjoyed a final title win at the 2010 Qatar ExxonMobil
Open enjoying back to back victories over the top two Nadal and Federer. However, soon after he fractured his wrist and failed to clinch any more titles and dropping out of the top ten failed to qualify for the season finale event for the first time in five
years.
Drawing against a difficult opponent, Davydenko plays Hewitt for the semis at the event. Davydenko has a rival in Hewitt that he has never defeated giving the latter a perfect 4-0 lead in the pair’s head to head. Their last meeting came in 2007 at the German
Open Tennis Championships, when Hewitt had defeated the Russian in 140 minutes with a loss of one set. The score line for that match was 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Although, Davydenko ranks much higher than the Aussie, the latter proved it only in his last match that ranking can have only so much effect on the outcome when he defeated Davydenko’s compatriot Mikhail Youzhny. Hewitt defeated Youzhny in a three setter,
prevailing 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
Having kicked off 2011 at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Hewitt won his opening rubbers though his loss to Andy Murray cost Australia its spot in the finals. He rose to fame last year when he became the only Aussie ranked in the top 100. Hewitt finished 2010 with
only one successful final run accomplishing it at the Gerry Weber Open where he clinched his twenty eighth career title defeating Roger Federer.
Although, Davydenko is ranked much higher than Hewitt, the Aussie enjoys the statistical c*m psychological advantage of having never been beaten by the Russian. Maybe this plus the home court advantage will play in Hewitt’s favour. Given Davydenko’s recent
form, the Russian can be expected to put up a fight to finally win one over Hewitt. Who will win? Only time will tell.
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