Davydenko to face Ferrer in capital

posted on 31/12/2009: 57 views

The spotlight will once again be on Abu Dhabi which will be signing off 2009 the way it started it — with a world class sporting event.

Spain's Davis Cup hero David Ferrer will take on Russian ace Nikolay Davydenko in today's opening match of the US$250,000 (Dh917,500) winner-takes-all Capitala World Tennis Championship, bringing the curtain down on a milestone year for Abu Dhabi.

The highlights of 2009 were the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix followed by the Fifa Club World Cup but the Capitala Tennis Championship will ensure that 2010 is also ushered in with a bang as fans around the planet will watch world No 1 Roger Federer and world No 2 Rafael Nadal in action on New Year's Day.

With four of the world's top ten playing here, this event has, after the inaugural edition's tremendous success, gained hugely in status as it gives an early pointer to form ahead of the ATP Series worldwide.

Ranked seven in the world, Davydenko finished off with a superb win in the year-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London and will be starting off as the favourite to win today against Ferrer.

The Russian, who lost to Nadal in the semi-finals here in the first edition, is hoping to carry the form that gave him a lot of success in the second half of 2009.

"Winning the year-end title is certainly a confidence builder. I think I played some of my best tennis during the second half of the season, and hopefully I can carry that success into the start of 2010," he said.

Davydenko will be using the Capitala event to prepare for the Qatar Open in Doha and a win today will set-up a rematch with Nadal and a chance to avenge his loss year.

However, waiting to spoil those plans of Davydenko is the Spanish ace Ferrer, who was at the heart of yet another Davis Cup triumph by Spain.

With Abu Dhabi still nursing the hangover of Spanish giants FC Barcelona winning the Club World Cup less than a fortnight ago, Barca fan Ferrer will be aiming to make it an all-Spain semi-final tomorrow by winning against Davydenko Thursday.

"Davydenko is always a tough opponent, particularly considering how well he has been playing lately, and I'm looking forward to playing him again," said Ferrer. – Gulf News

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