Second set: Game 10 Davydenko serves out the match to get his 2009 campaign off to a winning start and set up a semi-final showdown with the world No1 Rafael Nadal. Second set: Game nine Roddick is unhappy with a few of the decisions not going his way and has words with the umpire. He channels that aggression into his next serve which the speed gun clocks at 192 kph. A fine backhand at the net sees him win the game to make the score 5-4 to Davydenko. Second set: Game eight Rallies have been few and far between in this match but both play their part in a 30-stroke plus rally at the start of the eighth game in the second set, which Roddick wins. The crowd are then treated to another ding-dong rally which the Russian takes this time with a fine backhand to give him advantage point before seeing out the game for a 5-3 lead. Second set: Game seven Roddick successfully holds serve. He is lucky he has such a useful weapon to fall back on as he makes a sluggish start to 2009. The score is now 4-3 in the second set to Davydenko. Second set: Game six Davydenko takes a 4-2 lead with more assured stroke play from the back of the court. His consistency is certainly not matched by Roddick. Second set: Game five Roddick belts a ball out of the stadium after a mix-up between the ball boys and the balls. Holds his nerve despite some boos from the crowd to trail 3-2 in the second. Second set: Game four Roddick's unforced error count is stacking up with every game. Two more in the fourth game of the second set allow his opponent to take a 3-1 lead. Second set: Game three A moment of comedy as Roddick is staring down the barrel of a Russian gun. He turns his back on the impending smash only for Davydenko to play the softest of shots over him. The Russian leads the second set 2-1. Second set: Game two "Whatever you can do, I can do too," is Davydenko's reply as he seals it with an ace. 1-1 Second set: Game one Roddick's booming serve is his most powerful weapon and he uses it to devastating effect at the start of the second set as he attempts to claw his way back. First set: Game 10 Davydenko breaks Roddick with a beautiful backhand and sees the game out to take the first set 6-4. First set: Game nine A tight affair. Both players scoring forehand winners and both hitting the net with sloppy shots. Roddick loses advantage point twice before holding out to win the game and reduce Davydenko's lead to 5-4. First set: Game eight Nothing spectacular from Davydenko. He does the basics well and that's why he has consistently been in the top 10 over the last five years. Forces Roddick into errors rather than pulverises with his own winners. Takes the game 40-15 for a 5-3 lead in the first. First set: Game seven The best rally of the match. Both players cover every inch of the court to the joy of the crowd before Davydenko brings the game to an end hitting a backhand effort out. He still leads Roddick 4-3 though. First set: Game six Brilliant build up play and clinical shots at the net sees Davydenko take the sixth game without dropping a point. He looks the better of the two players on early showing. First set: Game five The fifth is all about the power of Roddick as he pulls his socks up and punishes his opponent with some devastating play from the back of the court and the net to make it 3-2 to the Russian. First set: Game four Davydenko looks the more confident of the two players as Roddick struggles with the Russian's array of shots and the soaring heat. However, A-Rod does battle back to bring the scores to 40-40 before Davydenko sees out the game for a 3-1 lead. First set: Game three Roddick struggles to find his range from the baseline which sees him make four unforced errors to give Davydenko advantage. The Russian draws first blood in breaking serve as Roddick once again overcooks a forehand shot. (1-2) First set: Game two Davydenko shows some clinical baseline shots to keep Roddick at bay to level the scores at 1-1. First set: Game one Roddick serves up three aces after going 0-15 down and finishes off with a cute backhand volley to win the first game 40-30. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's a scorching day in the capital but that has not deterred the fans from turning out in numbers for what promises to be a fantastic day of tennis. The action kicks off with the world No 8 Andy Roddick of the US against Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, who is ranked three places above him in fifth. The players are all done with their warm-ups, all that's left now is to let the action begin.
Welcome and happy New Year to you all. What a start to 2009 we have in store for you as the world's best tennis players are in Abu Dhabi to compete in the Capitala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City and you can keep up to date on all the action right here on Live text The world No 1 Rafael Nadal is here to kick start his preparations for the long season ahead, as well as Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and James Blake. First up on court today at 3pm is the American Roddick, whose last visit to the UAE saw him win the Dubai Championship, as he is paired up against the fifth-ranked Davydenko of Russia in the best-of-three set encounter. The second match sees Britain's Murray, ranked fourth in the world, against Blake of the US, to determine who will go on to face Messrs Nadal and Federer in the semi-finals tomorrow. We'll have game-by-game updates on all the matches so you don't have to miss a thing. sluckings@thebational.ae