Nikolay Davydenko Sees Off Ill Nadal

Nikolay Davydenko will have the chance to defend his Qatar Open title later today after seeing off world number one Rafael Nadal in the semi final.

The Spaniard has been suffering from a fever all week and has struggled in his previous matches, despite finding a way through.

But Nadal appeared to run out of team against a relentless Davydenko who seems to be finding form and confidence after struggling with a wrist injury last year.

The beginning of the match promised much as the first six games went with serve leaving the pair tied at 3-3.

But Nadal then lost the next eight games and his visibly began to tire and couldn’t compete with the powerful play from Davydenko.

At 6-3 5-0 it looked Nadal was going to be handed a bagel set but in true Rafa style he dug deep in a bid to make a competition of the second set.

He held serve to finally get on the board at 5-1 before going on to break Davydenko and close the gap by a further game.

But it was too little too later as Davydenko wrapped up the match 6-3 6-2 in his next service game and set up a final clash with Roger Federer, who he beat twelve months ago in the semi - final before beating Nadal in the final.

And Davydenko told the ATP that he is confident that he can get a result against Federer this weekend.

“I think I have good chance. Beating Top 10 players in tournaments, it's confidence coming back, and for sure it's helping me so much to come back.

“[My] tennis level is also coming and [so I’m] automatically coming on physically. Just only problem I am not a Top 16 seeded player.

“That's already a different situation. I can play against Nadal, Djokovic, or Federer already in the fourth round. I just need to see against who I play and how I play.”

But it wasn’t all bad news for Nadal as he won the doubles title with compatriot Marc Lopez for the second time in three years.

Despite being under the weather Nadal found himself back on court after his semi final defeat against Daniele Bracciali and Andreas Seppi.

Despite going down an early break, Lopez’s serve coming under fire in the opening game, the pair battled back from 2-0 down to clinch the opening set 6-3.

It was a topsy turvy second set as there were a series of break from both teams, neither side being able to capitalise on their chances and a tie break was required.

And it was the Spanish pair who came through the breaker 7-4 to wrap up a straight sets 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win to lift the title.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw