Nikolay Davydenko downs Marin Cilic to reach the semi-finals of BMW Open
Russian Nikolay Davydenko, ranked 40th in the world, prevailed over Croatian Marin Cilic, ranked 21st in the world, in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 in the quarterfinals at the BMW Open in Munich on Friday. It took
the Russian one hour and 49 minutes to undo his opponent.
Davydenko broke Cilic in the fourth game of the opening set to take a 3-1 lead. However, the Croatian broke back immediately and held his serve in the next game to level the score at 3-3. Serving to stay in the set at 5-6, Cilic
failed to hold his serve and lost the set 5-7.
Davydenko hit a single ace and the same number of double fault in the first set. The Russian fired 76 percent of the first serves, converting 69 percent of the points on them in the opening set. While, Cilic had a lower first serve
percentage as he delivered just 53 percent of the first serves. The Croatian won 70 percent of the first service points in the opening set. Davydenko converted two of the four break points he received in the first set. The Russian saved two of the three break
points he faced in the opening set.
In the second set, Davydenko and Cilic held their serve in the first six games to tie the score at 3-3. The Russian broke Cilic in the eighth game, clinching three straight games to win the second set 6-3.
Davydenko hit a couple of aces and 63 percent of the first serves in the second set, winning 73 percent of the points on them. The 29-year-old grabbed 31 percent of the first return points in the second set. In comparison, Cilic
fired four aces and committed two double faults. The Croatian kept his first serve percentage at 57 percent and converted 69 percent of them into points in the second set. The 22-year-old won 27 percent of the points on his first return. Davydenko saved all
the four break points he faced and capitalized on one of the three opportunities he created in the second set.
The Russian said, after the match, "In the beginning it was difficult because he had set points and maybe I was a little bit lucky to break back. It was a pretty tough match because I know Cilic plays good, he played the final
here last year, so it was not easy."
Davydenko will meet world number 67, Czech Radek Stepanek in the semi-finals. Stepanek thrashed German Philipp Kohlschreiber, ranked 42nd in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 in the quarter-finals.
Davydenko and Stepanek, formerly ranked 3rd and 8th in the world respectively, will play each other for the tenth time. The Russian has won five out of the nine matches played between these two.
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