Nikolay Davydenko: Almost Famous

看板ALL-RUSSIANS作者Gronkjaer (丹麥快翼)時間19年前 (2006/09/09 19:12)推噓2(2推 0噓 0→)

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Nikolay Davydenko: Almost Famous by Neil Schlecht Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2006 If Mikhail Youzhny is the great unknown of the men’s semifinals at the 2006 US Open, his compatriot Nikolay Davydenko is only slightly more celebrated, despite his top-10 ranking. Some players impress onlookers as superb athletes, even before they strike a ball. Andy Roddick, Rafael Nadal and Marat Safin have imposing, quintessentially athletic frames. Roger Federer and James Blake are svelte and sleek, like thoroughbreds; just walking on court, they look fluid and fleet of foot. Nikolay Davydenko is none of these things. With his hollowed cheeks and wispy strands of blonde hair, he's low-key and an unlikely-looking semifinalist. At 5-foot-11 and 152 pounds, Davydenko is pretty average, if slight. He takes the court in drab, monochromatic outfits of white, black or gray. Though No. 6 in the world, he has no official clothing sponsor. The only thing notable about him on court is that he is not festooned with logos. Born in Ukraine and reared in Russia and Germany, Davydenko is now a resident of Monte Carlo, where it’s difficult to imagine him hanging out beachside with the gliteratti. Davydenko’s game is only slightly less unprepossessing than his physical package. After losing to him in an excruciating 3-hour-and-45-minute five-setter in yesterday’s quarterfinal, Tommy Haas said the Russian was “like a machine, a ball machine.” Extremely solid but with no real weapons—no big forehand, no penetrating serve, no lightning speed— Davydenko merely gets everything back and forces his opponents to beat themselves. Which they do. Playing Savvy Davy must be maddening, if not soporific. Davydenko has transformed a youthful pusher’s game into one that wins on the pro tour. “Was all time I was young, I was playing everything, fighting, you know, play from baseline, try to do something,” said Davydenko. “But I was skinny. I still I think skinny, you know.” “Got to give it up,” said Haas. “It’s tough to beat him.” Mostly, Davydenko plays and plays like there’s no tomorrow. A true tour workhorse, he plays more matches and tournaments than anyone else (28 so far this year, 33 last, counting Davis Cup), continent-hopping from event to event, playing nearly every week and racking up rankings points. “I get rest few days, play next tournament,” explained Davydenko. That workaholic schedule landed him a year-end No. 5 ranking in 2005, though Davydenko has only once previously reached a Grand Slam semi, at Roland Garros in 2004. Davydenko has won six career titles, including the Pilot Pen event before coming to Flushing. “For me, last week, New Haven, winning, already coming to US Open semis. I think, in New York, I am already famous.” Famous or not, Davydenko’s game plan remains endearingly simple, if not always fun to watch. “I winning from baseline these points. Winning game. Then winning set.” Unfortunately for the human backboard, Davydenko now runs into a totally different kind of wall in the next round. He plays King Federer. Davydenko extended Federer to four sets, including two tiebreaks, at the Australian Open earlier this year. Though few are giving him a shot at dethroning the champion, Davydenko is undeterred. “You need to think you can beat him. He's No. 1, yeah, that's (…) important only in head.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 會轉貼這篇一大部份是因為標題--成名在望!! -- http://blog.pixnet.net/Gronkjaer -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.229.32.66