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FED-EXPRESS DERAILED...!

2008 finalist Nikolay Davydenko registered his first win over Federer in as many as 13 career meetings to reach the final of the 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

Davydenko won the opening set easily but faced stiff resistance from the Swiss in the second. The decider saw the crucial break in the 11th game when Davydenko broke the world number one to then win the one hour and 55 match.

BROKEN....!

Federer's serving excellence does come to the Swiss' rescue initially as he pockets a couple of crucial points to remain in the match till deuce, however, a forced error gives Davydenko the first break point of the decider which he duly converts with a beautiful backhand return winner.

Davydenko overcomes some heavy pressure put by the Swiss maestro to come out of the 0-30 situation and win the service game to stay in the match at 5-5.

Federer makes full use of his serving brilliance to put away simple forehand winners. With no break points in the set so far, bith players are gradually moving to a tie-break finish.

Astonishing court coverage from Federer makes Davydenko play that extra ball in points, but the Russian still manages to hold a crucial serve to stay very much in contention.

Federer continues to build pressure on Davydenko by remaining unchallenged in the decider. With no breaks of serve so far, the match closes in on a tie-break finish.

Davydenko levels the decider with his confident love service game. The trend from the past few games shows how short the points and rallies have been as opposed to the more dominant service winners.

Short service holds by both players give a clear indication of a deciding tie-break finish. Although, it will be interesting to see if any og the two players excel in getting that GOLDEN BREAK.

Davydenko now keeps his eyes open for even the minutest possibility of sabotage in the match and wins a solid service game to square off the set at 2-2.

Federer brings in the experience to the fore by winning the quick service game and keep his chances in the match strong and solid.

Davydenko refuses to all victim to the shift of momentum and keeps his hands firmly on the match by winning his service game for 1-1.

One of Federer's most satisfying performance before the triumph at French Open was the win in the final of Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open, where he tamed the Lion in his den.

Federer turns things around completely in the match  by levelling it and wins the opening game of the decider on a confident note.

FAR FROM OVER...!

Roger Federer patiently awaited the opportunity and got it in the last game of the set to level the match at one set a piece. Federer hit 9 winners to Davydenko's 8 but got the winning edge with the Russian's 12 unforced errors to stay in contention.

Both players test each other to limits in the ninth game on Federer's serve before Federer produces sublime tennis to hold his serve and stay ahead in the set at 5-4.

Davydenko made a bad start to the yearend championship[s and lost the first RR match to Djokovic in three closely contested sets.

Davydenko makes a bad start to the game with a double fault, but hits a delightful forehand on-the-run to show that his opening set win was only the result of his improved play and mental strength to level the second set at 4-4.

During French Open, Federer was literally tested to limits by Tommy Haas in the pre-quarterfinals and Jose Acasuso in the second round. With so much of struggle in the early rounds, the Swiss star's win in the final over Soderling came as a relief.

Federer, with a quick response races to a love service game of his own and stays ahead 4-3 in the second set. Will Davydenko loosen up here? Will Federer get the match levelling break to serve for the set? Find out with us on TennisEarth.com...!

Davydenko displays his finesse at the net with a couple of good volley winners and soon races to a 40-0 lead , thanks to his blistering serves today, to then win the game with another service winner.

Federer ensured his place at the very first page in the history books when he beat Andy Roddick in the finals to lift his sixth Wimbledon singles and 15th overall Grand Slam title, surpassing American Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slam wins.

Federer shows his serving brilliance in a short game to stay ahead in the second set, with a loss of the opener.

There's no stopping the Russian as the 2008 finalist keeps the momentum going in his favour with a strong service hold to avoid any service break despite facing resistance from his own set of errors.

Federer's best win in the Round Robin matches came aginst home favourite Andy Murray, whom he beat in a tight three-setter to keep his title bid alive and kickin'.

Federer refuses to repeat the story of the opening set and goes for a quick service hold in the second to stay ahead and look for chances of sabotage...!

At 15-15, Davydenko thwacks a swashbuckling forehand crosscourt pass to Federer's sharp drop volley and sets the tone for the rest of the match. The Russian has finally come out of the shadow of the Swiss Maestro.

Federer's capabilities were first questioned after his loss in the finals of Australian Open when he lost to arch nemesis Rafael Nadal in five tough sets. His emotional meltdown in front of millions left the tennis world wondering whether he is capable of winning big matches at grand stages or not.

Federer opens the second set amidst huge amount of pressure to win a solid service game.

HIS FIRST SET IN IN A REALLY LONG TIME...!

Nikolay Davydenko won his first set in as many as 24 previous attempts to start the semifinal match on a super-confident note. Davydenko broke Federer's serve twice in the thrice in the set and pocketed the opener by 6 games to 2.

Davydenko looked in phenomenal form in his match against Swede Soderling when he beat the French Open finalist in three gruelling sets.

Davydenko justifies his recent bolstering form, even against someone who beat him 12 times in a row to break Federer one more time and get a chance to serve flor the set at 5-2.

Federer regroups himself to start the game afresh with an amazing lob, but sees the Russian strike back with a sharp volley winner. At 30-30, Federer moves Davydenko from corner-to-corner to produce a beautiful forehand winner  and gets one or the breaks back to keep himself alive in the opener.

Errors start pouring in from Federer's racquet as Davydenko breaks the world number one to love for a formidable 4-1 lead in the match. This is by far the Swiss' weakest start in the championships.

Russian Davydenko's second Round Robin match saw him over-shadowing Nadal, when he posted a straight sets win over the former world number one.

Federer pulls up his sleeves to open the game with a beautiful volley winner, but witnesses some confident play from Davydenko, who wastes little time in consolidating the break for a 3-1 lead in the opening set.

At 15-15, Federer races to the net for a punching volley, but misses the simple put away to give Davydenko a small opportunity. Another couple of unforced errors give Davydenko a very crucial break as the Russian now serves for a 3-1 lead.

Davydenko makes a shaky start to the match and soon sees himself facing two break points. After a hard-hitting rally, followed by a service winner, the Russian saves both of them and finds his rhythm in two fantastic forehand winners to hold serve.

Federer started his bid for the fifth title with a confident win over Fernando Verdasco, winning the match after facing little resistance from the Spaniard.

Federer makes a strong start to the match with his well placed aces and follow up winners against the man whom he has beaten in all their 12 previous meetings.

Both the players arrive on the court and start warming up for the big occasion.

2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals SF
Roger Federer vs. Nikolay Davydenko
Head-to-Head
Federer leads series 12-0
Last Meeting - 2008 Estoril Final
Federer won 7-6(5), 1-2, Ret.

Five time champion Roger Federer enters the semifinals with a confirmed status as the year-end No.1, becoming the only player after Ivan Lendl to lose the top spot and regain it in Singles Rankings. His opponent today is the man who has given some astonishing results in the championship. Nikolay Davydenko has never won a match against Federer, but all that can be kept aside while predicting today's winner. Davydenko's improved play since his triumph in Shanghai has helped him regain the status that he lost due to a injury-stricken 6 month lay-off. As far as the result of today's semifinal is concerned, a definite three set finish will see Federer emerge victoriuos to reach his sixth year-end final in seven years.