Nikolay Davydenko of Russia reacts after winning his ATP World Tour Finals tennis match at the 02 Arena against Robin Soderling of Sweden in London November 27, 2009. [Agencies]
LONDON - Nikolay Davydenko sealed the last semi-final berth at the ATP World Tour Finals on Friday, claiming the victory he needed over Robin Soderling to send 2008 champion Novak Djokovic spinning out of the tournament.
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Nikolay Davydenko of Russia reacts after winning his ATP World Tour Finals tennis match at the 02 Arena against Robin Soderling of Sweden in London November 27, 2009. [Agencies] |
Serbian Djokovic completed Rafael Nadal's miserable week with a 7-6 6-3 defeat of the Spaniard but it proved in vain for the world number three, who could only sit and stew as Davydenko completed Group B by defeating Soderling 7-6 4-6 6-3.
With Nadal bottom of the group having lost all his matches without winning a set, the other three ended with two victories each but Soderling progressed in first place and avoided a semi-final showdown with world number one Roger Federer.
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 Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro (R) embraces Switzerland's Roger Federer after winning their ATP World Tour Finals tennis match at the 02 Arena in London November 26, 2009. [Agencies] |
Davydenko edged into second spot by virtue of a 5-3 sets record compared to the 4-3 of compiled by Djokovic, whose hopes of defending the title he won last year in Shanghai and climbing to world number two above Nadal were crushed.
Soderling, only playing in the year-ending showpiece after American Andy Roddick withdrew because of a knee injury, will play Argentina's U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the final.
Davydenko will try to snap a depressing 12-0 losing record against Federer.