ATP Tour - Fantasy Tennis: The return of Koyla

Eurosport - Fri, 03 Oct 17:25:00 2008

The ATP's Mr. Consistency Nikolay "Koyla" Davydenko has slowly been slipping down the world rankings, but a return to his best tournament makes the Russian our fantasy pick of the week.

TENNIS Nikolay Davydenko Russia - 0

Each week 'In or Out' offers tips on players who could be worth picking with your two weekly transfers, hopefully giving you an edge over your rivals. This week's tournament is the indoor hardcourt Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

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A Group

In: Nikolay Davydenko

The Russian number one loves playing at home and despite his lack of value at the Madrid Masters in two week's time, it is certainly worth using one of your transfers to pick up Davydenko for the Kremlin Cup alone. This will be his first tournament since being cleared in the 2007 Sopot betting probe, and the two-time defending champion and three-time Moscow winner is the clear favourite to claim a fourth title.

Out: Anyone but the big three

With Madrid coming up you don't necessarily want to be dropping any of the big three (Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic ), but if you have anyone else here they are expendable.

B Group

In: Paul-Henri Mathieu

Last year's fallen finalist won his first-career title at Moscow in 2002 and has a 12-3 record at the indoor event. The Frenchman, who recently split with coach Mats Wilander, had been struggling prior to reaching the quarter-finals in Metz this past week. Mathieu will continue to rebound at one of his top tournaments.

Out: Mikhail Youzhny

The bull-headed Russian played his first competitive match in a month at Tokyo, beating Italian Flavio Cipolla. He fell to Rainer Schuettler in his second Japan Open match, however, and looks like a very risky pick going forward - even on home soil.

C Group

In: Janko Tipsarevic

Tipso is another one of those players who seems to do particularly well at this event having reached the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals in his previous two appearances. Coming off of a strong performance at Metz, the Serbian number two could go one better than the semis this time around. Home hopeful Igor Andreev, the 2005 Moscow champion and two-time quarter-finalist, is a strong number two pick in this group.

Out: Dmitry Tursunov

The Moscow native had an excellent run at Metz, but has been pitiful in his previous two appearances at his home tournament losing in the first and second rounds. As tempting as it may be to add him, Marat Safin is another to avoid here. The former world number one has not won three successive matches since Wimbledon.

D Group

In: Viktor Troicki

The Serbian may have been lucky to reach the quarter-finals in Tokyo after injury-prone Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga withdrew from their third-round match, but Troicki's confidence should be very high heading into Moscow after his best performance since the summer. Beijing runner-up Dudi Sela is a strong number two pick from this group.

Out: Michael Llodra

A fantasy favourite when the season began, Llodra has fallen in our esteem due to a dismal run of results including a second-round exit to the world number 214 at a Challenger event in Orleans. He's not won back-to-back matches since June.

Jeremy Stahl / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 6 of 6

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  1. I think that Novak Djokovic will be the best in indoor­ tournaments because he has a play style for that.

    From zarkomiskovic, on Sun 5 Oct 1:30PM
  2. It's Kolya, not Koyla. And yes, he is back.

    From Rachael, on Sun 5 Oct 8:50AM
  3. Nikolai Davidenko's nick name is Kolya and not­ Koyla

    From wrabet2007, on Sat 4 Oct 10:13PM
  4. It's Kolya, not Koyla. And yes, he is back.

    From Rachael, on Sat 4 Oct 7:21PM
  5. It's Kolya, not Koyla. And yes, he is back.

    From Rachael, on Sat 4 Oct 7:17PM
  6. I don't think that dudi Sela will do something

    From SINA, on Sat 4 Oct 7:09PM
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