Davydenko, Nadal clash in Miami final

06.04.2008

NIKOLAY Davydenko claimed a two-set victory over Andy Roddick to seal a showdown with Rafael Nadal in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Roddick was unable to build on the form that saw him beat world number one, Roger Federer in the quarter-finals as Davydenko won 7-6, (7-5), 6-2.

Nadal moved to the final after a straight-set win over Tomas Berdych. The world number two, looking for his first title since Stuttgart last July, won 7-6, (8-6), 6-2 in first semi-final.

Roddick looked poised to win the first set against Davydenko when he forced a mini-break to 4-3 in the tie-break. But fourth seed Davydenko, 26, won the next two points on the American’s serve and went on to close out the set.

Roddick, the 2004 winner, broke in the third game of the second set for a 2-1 lead. But that was to be the last game he won as his opponent broke back and added two more breaks to take the match in one hour, 47 minutes.

Davydenko, who will be the first Russian in the 24-year history of this hardcourt event to play in the final, admits he faces a huge test to beat Nadal for the title. “He’s physically so fit,” Davydenko said. “It’s amazing, he doesn’t seem to care if he’s playing a night session or a day session. He runs so much and fights so hard.”