Nikolay Davydenko pounces over James Blake in the opening round – Sony Ericsson Open 2012
In an epic match between two former top-five stars, Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko hit back at James Blake to advance into the second round at the Sony Ericsson Open 2012 on Wednesday. He penned down a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 score line against the 32-year-old at this
ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour Masters 1000 event taking place at Key Biscayne in Miami.
Davydenko showed his old form at this match and outgunned the world number 69 for the first time in their eighth meeting. After earning this glory in this one hour and 59-minute duel, the Ukrainian-born not only lowered trail in the head-to-head series by
1-7 against Blake but also secured a spot in the following round.
Blake made quick in-roads at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park and stroke out the opening three games in a row to go 3-0 up. Despite gifting away his serve in the fourth game, the American broke Davydenko’s serve once more to eventually go 5-1 up. He lost
his serve again in the eighth game but kept but remained focused to pull out the opener with a 6-4 win.
The Russian veteran pushed the bar of his game in the following set and smoothly slid his entire serves after saving the lone breakpoint he faced. Davydenko then capitalised on one out of four break opportunities in the last game and sealed the equaliser
by winning six games to four.
The 30-year-old lost his way again in the final set and lost his serve in the third game. However, he quickly covered it up by snatching his break back and levelled the scores at 2-2. Davydenko then kept remaining serves without facing any challenge and
cashed in another break opportunity in the last game to clinch the decider with a 6-4 score line.
Up next for the world number 40 is the local ace, John Isner, who cracked the top-10 after making a title-round berth at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells last week. The Russian needs to give his all in order to upset the American number two in front
of pessimist crowd.
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