Davydenko Plays Down Chances Against Nadal at Barcelona

by Staff | April 24th, 2009, 7:32 pm
  • 39 Comments

Nikolay Davydenko’s quick return from a two-month foot injury lay-off will reach its peak on Saturday when the Russian faces world No. 1 Rafael Nadal on clay in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open.

On Friday Davydenko beat Radek Stepanek, snapping a three-match losing streak against the Czech with a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-2 win.

“I’m not thinking about tomorrow yet,” Davydenko told the media. “I haven’t played that many matches this year yet, so I want to enjoy this moment. I’m starting to find my game and I know I can play better.”


Davydenko played only his second tournament of the year last week at Monte Carlo, losing to Andy Murray in the quarterfinals. He has lost both his career claycourt meetings with Nadal.

“It’s a secret,” said Davydenko of his game plan against the Spaniard. “I’m not going to tell the press, because tomorrow you’ll print it and then Rafa will read it and know all the secrets.”

David Ferrer also advanced to the semis, winning the all-Spanish battle against Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4. Ferrer will next face Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, who upset No. 2 seed Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

According to the ATP, this is the first time since 1977 that four of the top five seeds have advanced to the semifinals in Barcelona. That year it was the Top 4 seeds in Bjorn Borg, Manuel Orantes, Eddie Dibbs and Wojtek Fibak.

Nadal received some extra rest on Thursday when David Nalbandian withdrew from their quarterfinal match citing an injury.


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39 Comments for Davydenko Plays Down Chances Against Nadal at Barcelona

fed is afraid Says:

he should ask roger how to play rafa, since fed has had such great success against him. LOL

April 24th, 2009 at 10:41 pm


Tj Says:

Davy might be able to push Rafa, although I think Rafa will eventually win.

April 25th, 2009 at 12:51 am


margot Says:

I think Nadal would slaughter Ferrer. There’d be far more needle and therefore a better match, if he plays Gonzo in the final.
That being assumed of course that Rafa beats Davydenko who is a terrific player….

April 25th, 2009 at 2:20 am


zola Says:

Tj
you are right. He has done it I think in Rome 07. He plays very aggressively and moves very well. He is a very smart player. Can really give Rafa a hard time. Rafa needs to concentrate and play the best he can.

margot,
I think Rafa’s match with Ferrer will be harder than Gonzo. Gonzo is explosive but he is not consistent. Ferrer is a very good clay court player and he does not get tired as well, like most of the Spanish players.

April 25th, 2009 at 2:48 am


Tj Says:

With Rafa’s schedule this year at clay courts, I hope he will skip Madrid. Last year loss in Rome to Ferrero turned out to be the best thing to Rafa with his RG and Wimby victories.
Vamos Rafa!

April 25th, 2009 at 7:14 am


zola Says:

Tj
I do too. I don’t understand why they put a tournament like Madrid at high altitude just before RG? What type of preparation is that for any player?

If Rafa does not play, then he will have 3 weeks without play and that may not be good. So let’s see. he went to AO virtually with no prep. Maybe rest is as imporatant.

April 25th, 2009 at 10:01 am


zola Says:

btw, Rafa through to the final. Davy played several good games and some great touch at the net. I am glad he did not keep that level for the whole match. But he knows how to trouble Rafa. very dangerous player.

I can’t believe I missed Gonzo-Verdasco yesterday. tennistv showed some shots . It must have been a very entertatining and exciting match.

April 25th, 2009 at 10:03 am


ertorque Says:

Gonzo is steaming hot!! Ferocious groundstrokes and service too.

April 25th, 2009 at 10:10 am


ertorque Says:

Gonzo is steaming hot!! 2-1 up against Ferrer now. Ferocious groundstrokes and service too.

April 25th, 2009 at 10:11 am


zola Says:

oh! wow!
Gonzo is evaporating Ferrer!
I might change my wish! Holy moly!

April 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am


ertorque Says:

Now I am really impressed with Gonzo. Up 4-1 and serving. Not a single unforced error if I remember correctly.

April 25th, 2009 at 10:17 am


ertorque Says:

The 3rd backhand winner from Gonzo! This guy is really on a roll…………….

April 25th, 2009 at 10:19 am


zola Says:

this match can be over in 30 minutes! Rafa will have his hands full if he plays Gonzo tomorrow!

and it is very windy.
4-1 Gonzo
Deuce

April 25th, 2009 at 10:20 am


zola Says:

**Now I am really impressed with Gonzo. Up 4-1 and serving. Not a single unforced error if I remember correctly.***

reminds me of his play in AO 06. He had very few UE all through the tournament.

5-1 Gonzo

April 25th, 2009 at 10:23 am


ertorque Says:

Hope he can maintain his current form …………will be good to see a single backhander vs a double one in the finals.

April 25th, 2009 at 10:31 am


ertorque Says:

Gonzo is less lethal now in the 2nd set and Ferrer is getting more into the game. Ferrer up 4-1…….

April 25th, 2009 at 10:51 am


zola Says:

what about that?
second set 6-2 to ferrer!

April 25th, 2009 at 11:03 am


ertorque Says:

looks like Gonzo has lost some steam…….difficult to maintain the level of play as the 1st set. Seems a little tired while Ferrer is gaining momentum

April 25th, 2009 at 11:08 am


ertorque Says:

what a game this 7th game of the 3rd set!

April 25th, 2009 at 11:44 am


zola Says:

one double fault by Gonzo and it had to come at 5-5 tie break!
great job by both! congratz to Ferrer, but what a match by Gonzo…

April 25th, 2009 at 12:19 pm


zola Says:

and Ferrer to. crdit to him for coming back and playing great. the rallies were fantastic.

April 25th, 2009 at 12:20 pm


Kimmi Says:

Rome draw is out. The top 8 players same place as Monte carlo only Verdasco switch with del potro. How is that possible ?

Wonder how Federer will fair, needs a good run here.

Looks like Roddick did not enter here too…Honeymoon I guess, he is defending semi final points.

All in all good draw looking forward to some Rafa challenge if possible !!

April 25th, 2009 at 12:29 pm


Kimmi Says:

Barcelona too easy for Rafa, I only see him getting a challenge from the top 4. Tomorrow they should just give him the championship. Ferrer not really a challenge. I predict easy straight set.

April 25th, 2009 at 12:36 pm


zola Says:

Kimmi
did you watch today’s match betwwen Ferrer and Gonzo? If Ferrer plays like this, Rafa can be in trouble. He did not play particularly well against Davy, but maybe he did not have too. Tomorrow against Ferrer he needs to play much better.

This is how Rafa gets ready for RG and I think this is the key to his success at RG. he starts fairly ordinary in MC but gets better match by match. Very fre players play as many matches as he does ( or maybe none).

Roddick not showing up at Rome? Honeymoon perhaps, but he will lose some points ans perhaps momentum going to the second major of the year. But Blake and Sam are there.

April 25th, 2009 at 1:45 pm


zola Says:

oops, sorry for all the typos.

April 25th, 2009 at 1:45 pm


Kimmi Says:

Zola: I watch the matches, I thought was very dissapointing from Davydenko. He played some good shots yes but not at the right time. He played the big points very poor, Rafa did not have to do anything apart from the match point. Even Jason Goodal were saying Rafa only played at 3rd or 4th gear. I like to see Rafa pushed like Monte Carlo, we saw two great matches.

Ferrer does not have weapons to trouble Rafa, No serve, no big FH or BH just consistence, Nadal will eat him alive, he only needs the 3rd gear. Ferrer can prove me wrong, if he push Rafa to a close encounter I will be very surprise and will eat my words.

I think Rome will be great again, everybody is there, hope Murray can play better this time…I mean from the early rounds, he stuggled in Monte Carlo. Federer also needs to make a good show. Tennis needs Federer back, I think he always create interesting matches with any top players. Also hope Djokovic continue to bring his monte carlo form. You see, a lot of exciting matches.

Tsonga is playing here, great to see that. What with the french man draw, they always play together in the early rounds ? I have seen this in a lot of tornaments, strange !! Can Verdasco bring his AO form ever ? He makes too many UE..sheesh!!

I wonder if Roddick will be penalised since he is not entered a mandatory event. I don’t think he is injured either. I think the new rule require the top player to play all mandatory events unless injured, or they will lose points from the next mandotory events ?? Is that correct ? Then if the roumers about Rafa pulling out of Madrid are true, then he should also face the penalty.

April 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pm


Kimmi Says:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/en/common/TrackIt.asp?file=/1/posting/2009/416/op.pdf

Wow ! did you see the order of play in Rome, Djokovic, Murray Federer and del potro play tomorrow. Wow, thats early, when will Rafa play his 1st round Tuesday or Monday ?

No rest there, but I am sure no probs for Rafa, he didn’t need to stretch himself in Barcelona… and that bye at the semi will do him some good.

April 25th, 2009 at 3:33 pm


zola Says:

huh! that’s interesting Kimmi. Don’t they get a bye? Or are they all playing the second round matches? will they rest till Tuesday or Wednesday? very interesting. I guess Rafa will play Tuesday or wednesday. Afterall, that was the whole purpose of having byes. so that players reaching finals or so, can have enough rest time.

I should go do my ATP Rome bracket! My MC bracket got destroyed when Ferrer, Simon and Fed were out!

Re: Davydenko’s poor play, yes he did not play his best. I read that he is coming back from injury. SO reaching semis is great. But you are right. He did not push Rafa.
Ferrer has a good serve and can run down any ball. He has very powerful groundstrokes. To me he is always dangerous. Today’s match was a great example. he does not give up. I think Rafa will have his hands full. I hope he can win.

I won’t be able towatche the match tomorrow. Unbelievable. But I am glad there are all those Rome matches to watch.

I guess both Roddick and Rafa ( if he skips Madrid) will be penalized. perhaps we will hear about Roddick’s this week.

April 25th, 2009 at 5:15 pm


Tj Says:

Yeah, Barcelona is too easy for Rafa. Bad enough to have Rafa at the other side of the net, not to mention playing him on the red dirt in spain. I think Roddick made similar comment a month or two ago.

I can’t wait to watch Rome.

April 25th, 2009 at 5:26 pm


Kimmi Says:

Hah !! I just find out the matches in Rome tomorrow are exhibition only not the main draw, thats why everything was confusing. The matches will be one-set only to raise money for Leukimia charity in memory of Federico Luzzi.

April 25th, 2009 at 6:39 pm


zola Says:

Kimmi,
so funny!
I looked at the OP and saw that the matches were scheduled on hour apart. now I know the reason.

do you know if they will be broadcasted somewhere?

Duro
do you play the ATP bracket? it is fun!
http://challenge.atpworldtour.com/

April 25th, 2009 at 8:46 pm


Kimmi Says:

“I guess both Roddick and Rafa ( if he skips Madrid) will be penalized. perhaps we will hear about Roddick’s this week”

I was looking at the ATP rulebook re: Tournament Withdrawals.

Unless the player is proved to be injured or ill the rules this year are pretty tough for withdrawals, here is what the rule say:

Withdrawal Penalties
ATP World Tour Masters 1000. Any player withdrawing from the main draw shall
be suspended from a subsequent ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. This event
shall be the event where the player earned the highest point total during the previous
12 months. Subsequent withdrawals will carry a second suspension from the
next event where the player earned his second highest point total. Additional withdrawals
will include further suspensions in the same manner. Players shall not have
the suspension penalty assessed if they complete the requirements for “promotional
activities” or the withdrawal complied with the requirements for an on-site withdrawal.

So it looks pretty tough. I will be curious to know what will happen to Roddick though, he will probably perform the “promotional activities” this way he wont lose any points.

April 25th, 2009 at 11:13 pm


zola Says:

Kimmi
this is interesting:
****Players shall not have
the suspension penalty assessed if they complete the requirements for “promotional
activities” or the withdrawal complied with the requirements for an on-site withdrawal.
***

so no more penalties if the player shows up for promotional activities? will be interesting to see what happens to Roddick.

April 26th, 2009 at 1:16 am


Duro Says:

This is why Fed showed up in Dubai…

April 26th, 2009 at 5:08 am


margot Says:

I feel, part of the issue about folk not blogging is that unless you are Spanish or an out and out Rafa fan, Barcelona has been boring and predictable hasn’t it? I personally don’t just want match after match where Rafa whops player after player. I want the possibility, however remote, of an upset. So unless most of the top 10 are playing, it’s not too much fun for me.
Also probably why people are talking about underwear on another thread, it’s a lot more exciting than the tennis at Barcelona!

April 26th, 2009 at 5:42 am


Duro Says:

Margot, since you and I are from Europe and the rest of them is sleeping, I’m expecting your Murray to pull the surprise and make it to the finals where my Nole is going to beat him, ha ha ha! Great scenario for both of us, your Murray will make it to the number 3 spot, and my Nole will beat him and defend I title in Rome!

April 26th, 2009 at 6:02 am


margot Says:

Hi Duro! Yes, 12.25 uk time! Do you really think Andy is gonna beat Rafa? Well, if he does he’ll surely beat your Nole, cos he’ll have such fire in his belly! I’m predicting 2010 for Andy to make really BIG time. Look out Rafa then….and Nole of course.

April 26th, 2009 at 7:29 am


Duro Says:

Margot, Murray is already having a big time, and it’s quite some time now… I don’t expect any improvements from him, cause it’s obviously the best tennis he can perform ever. So, more likely he’s gonna drop a bit… If he beats Rafa (which is possible) there will be no fire left in his belly, that’s for sure (as same as in MC Shanghai where he lost to Davidenko, after wearied down playing Fed). Anyway, Nole is winning this one if Murray ousts Nadal, no doubt about, for me. Even if he wouldn’t lose the strength playing Nadal, he would lose to Nole eventually, simply because of the fact that Novak plays better, on the clay especially.

April 27th, 2009 at 5:40 am

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