Nikolay Davydenko outlasts Jarkko Nieminen in the first round – German Tennis Championships 2012
Former world number three, Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, dominated the second half of the match to topple the current 38th ranked contestant, Jarkko Nieminen, in the opening round of the Bet-at-home German Open Tennis
Championships in Hamburg.
The Russian lost the first set 5-7 but bounced back to win the following two 6-4, 6-0 to capture victory in an hour and 58 minutes on Monday.
Nieminen attacked from the start of the contest, claiming first three games to open up a 3-0 lead. Davydenko broke back in the seventh but lost his next serve again to trail 3-5. Although, the Russian carried on to be on his never
say die mode, as he claimed two back to back games, evening out the proceedings at 5-5. Nieminen won his serve in the 11th and succeeded in striking again in the 12th to seal it 7-5.
The Finn smashed a couple of aces and did not make any double fault, delivering 76 percent of the first serves and clinching 15 of the 28 points on them in the opening set. The left-hander continuously put pressure on the Russian’s
second serves, as he captured four of the seven points.
Nieminen and Davydenko did not lose their serve in the first six games of the second set and took the score to 3-3. The Russian hit a blow to Nieminen in the seventh but could not consolidate on it, taking the proceedings to 4-4.
Davydenko snatched a break again in the ninth and this time he capitalised on it to triumph 6-4.
The Moscow, Russia resident put on a satisfactory show on his serves, keeping the first delivery percentage at 68 and bagging 17 of the 26 points on them. The 31-year-old gave a brilliant showing on the second returns, converting
seven of the 10 of them into points.
After clinching the second set, Davydenko’s confidence was at the sky, as he produced some flawless tennis in the decider. The Russian did not allow Nieminen to win even one game, grabbing triple breakthrough and utilising it fully
to win 6-0.
Davydenko’s serves were superb in the final set, as he lost only one point on his entire deliveries. The right-hander also pocketed nine of the 16 first and eight of the 12 second reply points. The 5ft 10 in tall did not face even
a single break point throughout the set.
The Russian will play the top seed, Nicolas Almagro, or Tobias Kamke in the round of 16.
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