Davydenko sets up clash with Novak Djokovic in Montréal

Written by: Global Chick on 9th August 2011

Davydenko sets up clash with Novak Djokovic in Montréal

Nikolay Davydenko of Russia returns to Antonio Veic of Croatia during their second round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 26 May 2011. EPA/GUILLAUME HORCAJUELO |

Former World No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko will be World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s next opponent. The two will meet in the second round of Coup Rogers in Montréal, Canada. Djokovic was awarded a bye in the first round and so are the other top seven seeded players.

Davydenko took out Italian qualifier Flavio Cipolla in two sets 6-3 6-3. The 24-year-old Serb has every reason to be worried before his clash with the unpredictable Russian. Djokovic’s form this year has been outstanding. He won both the Australian Open in January and more recently Wimbledon.

Another Croat in Djokovic’s section of the draw is Marin Cilic, who advanced to the second round after winning over Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-5 6-4. Cilic will face the number eighteen seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who was too good for Finish player Jarkko Nieminen. World No. 19 Del Potro won in two sets 6-4 6-0. The tall Argentine is steadily climbing back up the rankings.

American qualifier Alex Bogomolov Jr had a two sets win over France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-2 7-6 (4). Bogomolov will play the number five seed Gael Monfils in the second round.

Latvian Ernests Gulbis won a tough match over Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain. Gulbis is the current Champion at the Farmers Classic in LA. The three sets match finished 3-6 6-1 7-5.

Stanislas Wawrinka advanced into the second round yesterday after an easy win over former World No. 3 David Nalbandian. Wawrinka said, “For me everything went very well. I was very pleased with my game today. Nobody wants to play Nalbandian first round in a tournament leading up to the US Open. But he was not at his best today and he was not moving well.”

South African Kevin Anderson took out Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-4 6-4 to set up a meeting with Brit Andy Murray. Kevin Anderson hit 11 aces during the two set match.

Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov probably didn’t expect to play a three set match in the first round against Canadian wildcard Erik Chvojka. This was Chvojka’s first tour-level match. Dolgopolov came through winning 6-3 5-7 6-4. Next for Dolgopolov is the number seven seed Tomas Berdych.

The 208-centimetre tall Croatian Ivo Karlovic advanced to the second round defeating Juan Monaco 6-7 (2) 6-3 7-6 (5).

Second seed and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal is to meet Ivan Dodig who overcame Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4 6-4.

Three matches have been played in Montréal today so far. Spanish team Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez took were too good for Canadian wildcard team Vasek Pospisil and Adil Shamasdin. The Spaniards won 6-4 6-3 and they are now facing top seeds Mike and Bob Bryan in the second round.

Novak Djokovic and his partner Janko Tipsarevic defeated Mark Knowles and Philipp Petzschner 5-7 6-3 12-10. Djokovic and Tipsarevic will playe Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in the next round.

Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez lost to Tomas Berdych and Florian Mayer 6-3 7-6 (5). Berdych and Mayer will see Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi on the other side of the net in the next round.