Davydenko v Safin in All-Russian Moscow Final
Posted on October 15, 2006Top seed and 2004 champion Nikolay Davydenko earned his 200th career match and a spot in the final after a 6-4, 6-1 win over Fabrice Santoro Saturday in Moscow.
In the Sunday final, Davydenko will meet countryman Marat Safin in what will be the first all-Russian final of the year.
"It was easy, 6-4, 6-1, but in the first set I still made too many mistakes and it was 3-1 for him at the beginning," said Davydenko. "Safin is the guy that always plays 100% against the other Russians, he will try to play his perfect tennis. It will be an interesting final both for me and all Russia."
Safin blew out fellow-Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his first tour final since 2005 Halle. Safin's last title came at the 2005 Australian Open.
"I am still trying to find my game this week but I am happy twice as I reached my first final of 2006 and my first final in Moscow," Safin said. "I had been waiting for this moment for such a long time. [Davydenko] is a solid Top 10 player and did not drop a set all week. I will have to fight hard to win. I am not at my best so he's the favorite for the final."
Safin leads Davydenko 2-1 in their career head-to-head series.
In the Sunday final, Davydenko will meet countryman Marat Safin in what will be the first all-Russian final of the year.
"It was easy, 6-4, 6-1, but in the first set I still made too many mistakes and it was 3-1 for him at the beginning," said Davydenko. "Safin is the guy that always plays 100% against the other Russians, he will try to play his perfect tennis. It will be an interesting final both for me and all Russia."
Safin blew out fellow-Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 6-3 to advance to his first tour final since 2005 Halle. Safin's last title came at the 2005 Australian Open.
"I am still trying to find my game this week but I am happy twice as I reached my first final of 2006 and my first final in Moscow," Safin said. "I had been waiting for this moment for such a long time. [Davydenko] is a solid Top 10 player and did not drop a set all week. I will have to fight hard to win. I am not at my best so he's the favorite for the final."
Safin leads Davydenko 2-1 in their career head-to-head series.