moscow06davydenko_safin

Points won by each set: [ 34-26, 34-36, 38-29 ]
Points won directly on serve:
30 % Davydenko – 25 of 83
32 % Safin – 37 of 114

Two Russians in the Kremlin Cup final for the first time in the 17th edition of the event. Very prestigious duel because they both were the best Russian players of the 00s. They faced each other 8 times in total, splitting the number of wins; three times they met in Moscow, Safin won twice, but lost that most important match between them. Crucial was the opening game of the 3rd set – it was the longest game of the match (four deuces), Safin [65] thought that he got another advantage after an ace, but Davydenko [5] made a successful challenge and Safin lost his focus in the following two points. He trailed 0:3* (30-all), but made it competitive to the end – he improved to 3:4* (30/15), then at *3:5 he saved three match points in very good style (including backhand winner on the baseline). Davydenko was a great clincher though (five years not losing an MP-up match), and served it out at ‘love’.

Davydenko’s route to his 9th title:
1 Jiri Vanek 6-0, 6-0
2 Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-4, 6-2
Q Max Mirnyi 6-3, 7-5
S Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-1
W Marat Safin 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

Serve & volley: Davydenko 2/2, Safin 3/6

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