Igor Andreev Sees Off Davydenko

Nikolay Davydenko will not defend his Malaysian Open crown after falling in the second round to Igor Andreev.

The Russian had received a first round bye and was in action for the first time since the U.S. Open earlier this month.

Davydenko has plenty of points to defend in the latter end of the 2010 season and is still looking to find his form after struggling with a wrist injury earlier in the year.

The opening set went to a tie break and the world number six looked to be in complete control as he lead 5-1. But qualifier Andreev suddenly found his forehand to reel off six consecutive points and take the breaker 7-5.

Into the second set and Davydenko looked to have re-grouped after the loss of the opener as he dictated play in the opening exchanges.

He soon opened up a 5-1 lead until Andreev fought back once against. He took the next four games to level the set at 5-5.

But this time Davydenko held on as he broke to level the match at a set a piece by wrapping up the second 5-7.

Into the decider and Andreev continued to play aggressive tennis and Davydenko looked to be tiring in the blistering heat of Kuala Lumpur.

Andreev was just too strong for his compatriot and he wrapped up a 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 3-6 win.

Speaking to the Malaysia Star after the match Andreev said: "It was fantastic to win, especially in a tough match against Davydenko. It was very important that I took the first set to raise my confidence.

"Then in the second, I was down 1-5 and then lost the set so I just started thinking about how to get back in the decider."

Andreev will now face Milos Raonic after the qualifier saw off another seed in the form of Sergiy Stakhovsky.

It was a closely fought match between Raonic and the sixth seed as the first two set went to tie breaks, both winning one to take it to a decider.

But it was Stakhovsky who ran out of steam as Raonic wrapped up a 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 victory to reach his first ATP quarter final.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw