Masters Cup - Davydenko beats lacklustre Murray

Eurosport - Sun, 16 Nov 07:58:00 2008

Nikolay Davydenko reached the final of the Masters Cup in Shanghai with a straightforward 7-5 6-2 victory over world number four Andy Murray.

Andy Murray, Masters Cup Shanghai - 0

Russian Davydenko will face world number three Novak Djokovic in Sunday's final, after the Serb beat Gilles Simon 4-6 6-3 7-5.

"I was lucky Murray beat [Roger] Federer yesterday," said 27-year-old Davydenko, who would have played Federer in the semis had the Swiss overcome the Scot on Friday.

"But I played very well today and won ... he wanted to show he was the best player by beating Federer so maybe he was really tired."

Murray admitted fatigue was a factor after taking three hours to beat Federer in what, for him, was a dead rubber in the group stage.

"Naturally I was going to be tired, I played a long match last night but he played a lot better than me in the circumstances," said Murray.

Both players started tentatively and traded breaks in the opening two games.

The Scot also faced a break point in his second service game but managed hold when Davydenko hit into the net, after which he quickly settled into his rhythm.

With Murray serving to go ahead at 5-5, Davydenko made his move, hitting a forehand winner down the line followed by a stunning return of serve to earn a break point.

Murray thought he had hit an ace down the T to save it but Davydenko called on hawkeye to have the call over-ruled and the Scot surrendered his serve on the next point when his inside-out forehand, across court, caught the top of the net and landed wide.

Davydenko fired down his fourth ace of the match to bring up set point in the next game before whipping a forehand winner across court and into the corner to take the first set.

The Russian, who enjoyed a day off on Friday while Murray was playing Federer late into the night, started the second set in much the same fashion as he had finished the first, earning himself a first break point in the fifth game.

To secure the break Davydenko simply wore Murray down, running the Scot ragged around the baseline before dragging him up to the net and drawing the error on the backhand volley.

From there victory was all but assured for Davydenko and he secured a second break in the seventh game, pouncing on a signposted drop shot from Murray and putting the ball away up the line for a winner.

Murray had nothing left in the tank and Davydenko sealed an impressive victory at the first attempt by firing down his sixth ace of the match.

Follow LIVE text commentary and scoring of the Masters Cup final in Shanghai on Eurosport Yahoo! from 8am UK time on Sunday!!

Pippa Davis / Eurosport

Comment 111 - 130 of 130

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. dont knock murray - his day will come- 2009 i hope

    From fredevans2003, on Fri 21 Nov 2:48PM

  2. no mattrer murray has lost!!!!!!!!he'll surely end 2009 with atleast one slam title and NO.1 spot

    From vinod, on Mon 17 Nov 9:13AM

  3. Finaly someone shuts this guy up! :)

    From johnka7a, on Mon 17 Nov 7:52AM

  4. frst of all i think tht "DOGBISCUIT" is really a dog!!!then i @#$% this eurosport commentator whn during match between murray n davydenko they were saying tht the fairness of this final match should be reviewed as murray didnt get a day rest off..hey dumber where was you inlast couple of yrs???whn roger got the trophy playing in the same situation without any day rest for 4 times!!!!why dnt u admit tht murray dont have the power n passion for tennis as roger have..as he showed again in satuerday match in wounded situation tht how a real fighter fight!!!and it showed wht a warrior he is in this 27 age saying "i dnt quite once i stepped into the court!!'

    From frnd_strngr, on Sun 16 Nov 11:58PM

  5. DON'T THINK MURRAY PLAYED WELL AGAINST DAVYDENKO AS HE WAS TIRED BUT WELL DONE DAVYDENKO.
    ME NO LIKE MURRAY MUCH HIS HANDSHAKE WITH DAVYDENKO WAS VERY RUDE BAD LOSER.
    ALISON.

    From AJ, on Sun 16 Nov 8:43PM

  6. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Sun 16 Nov 2:00PM

  7. I get the impression that less than 1 per cent of the people who write on this forum know anything about sport, let alone play tennis.

    But if juvenile raving and venting gets you off, go for it. Sportsmanship is about the best man winning. The best man won the event, end of story. Bravo ND.

    As for the Federer & Murray haters, the bigots, and general all-purpose nut jobs, you have your reward: a lifetime of living with a deranged and sick mind. See a doctor before the men in white coats arrive at your door ;~))

    Barring that I know a good vet!

    ;~))

    PS Get it right up ye ya bunch a Jessies

    From Pete, on Sun 16 Nov 12:10PM

  8. I get the impression that less than 1 per cent of the people who write on this forum know anything about sport, let alone play tennis.

    But if juvenile raving and venting gets you off, go for it. Sportsmanship is about the best man winning. The best man won the event, end of story. Bravo ND.

    As for the Federer & Murray, haters, the bigots, and general all-purpose nut jobs, you have your reward: a lifetime of living with a deranged and sick mind. See a doctor before the men in white coats arrive at your door ;~))

    Barring that I know a good vet!

    Woof woof

    From Pete, on Sun 16 Nov 12:06PM

  9. many have perished for lack of wisdom, the sooner "superbrat andy" realises this, the better for his fragile and "start up" tennis career. he should have learnt from novak who obviously did not have to tire himself against tsonga in name of retaliation for previously losing to him at madrid and he has just won himself the masters cup. his myopic goal has robbed many of us from seeing the spectacle of a possible final between himself and roger in which he stood a chance of winning, had he not acted stupidly in the early rounds. i hope he doesnt live to regret this anyway. RF IS THE BEST!

    From shodolu, on Sun 16 Nov 11:17AM

  10. the message board is missing...hey calm everybody the loser is coming out of his way and kiss the @#$% of the winner...now i didnt find any murray supporters boasting ego of their idol..they´re also gone...weeping grunting their teeth of disappointment...you see this people are all only for winning..and they trash any of their idols when get lost...why are they not writing and support their loser idol to get up and make up his nerve...my oh my SCOTS and BRITONS..a losserssss!!!

    From santy972, on Sun 16 Nov 10:44AM

  11. ANDY MURRAY LEGEND. DEAL WITH IT GUYS. HE WILL OVERTAKE HENMANS CAREER TITLES TOTAL AND HIS MONEY TOTAL. HE IS CLOSE ALREADY AND HE IS NOT EVEN PAST 22 YEARS OLD. HE HAS BEATEN FED 4 TIMES NOW. YOU CANT FLUKE 4 WINS AGAINST THE GUY WITH FEDS ABILITY. HE IS NOT AS GOOD AS FED, RAFA OR NOVAK BUT WE CAN BEAT THEM ON HIS DAY WHICH ONE DAY MIGHT SEE HIM WIN A SLAM

    From leona, on Sun 16 Nov 9:43AM

  12. what an underdog win!
    i think i'm going to have to eat my words ;-). experienced and savvy is so underrated, folks. we all (except RHYMES, if recall correctly) always go for the big shots and tend to push the others under the "filler" category. i confess i wondered what was davydenko doing on the Master's ticket (i'm ashamed, i know).
    even if he doesn't win today, kudos to him for showing that youth and razzmatazz is too often overrated.
    take care everybody

    From Helen H, on Sun 16 Nov 7:56AM

  13. I hope we see the last of the England hater soon.

    From Gary, on Sun 16 Nov 7:55AM

  14. justice is done... murray dint deserve the semis. not bad davydenko. congrats on ur win. so close yet so far for murray. roger must be indeed smiling. even before murray wins one grand slam he talks as though he knows it all just becos he beat federer a few times. beating an injured federer isnt everything. its maintaining the consistency and continuing the victorious run that makes a true champ. murray is like nadal, a flash in the pan.

    From aaditya, on Sun 16 Nov 6:37AM

  15. History will remember James Blake and Andy Murray as some good player who beat couple of times the best of their times and spoiling that way some great possible finals or semifinals.

    From karl_sebastian, on Sun 16 Nov 6:34AM

  16. am jaz glad really MURRAY lost to davydenko
    otherwise this comments corner, will be full of ARROGANCE from Murray's Fans.

    From rudy_pagao, on Sun 16 Nov 5:56AM

  17. Good try Andy. Well done keep yer chin up as you are much better than that @#$% Henman.

    From Robbie, on Sun 16 Nov 4:22AM

  18. Dai peple i am from Serbia and i am fun of Novak, but i have to admit that Murry plays the best tennis on this tournament and it is a pitty he lost to Davidenko. Go Nole and all the best for Murry. He an Nole will be no 2 and no 1 next year. Great carisma and peronality.

    From blagojevic.milena, on Sun 16 Nov 3:33AM

  19. Murray is "The Great British" hope of tennis when he wins and hated for being a Proud Jock.

    Tim Henman was FANTASTIC right. LOL P*SH @#$% and bunch of WANKE*S you Guffys.

    From derek, on Sun 16 Nov 2:41AM

  20. I think Federer is still the best player in the world .
    I respect him .

    From , on Sun 16 Nov 1:27AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account