It hit me midway through the first set of today’s Djokovic vs. Davydenko match in Shanghai: Nikolay Davydenko is just as fun to watch as hyped-up young guns like Gilles Simon and Juan Martin del Potro. Perhaps this is no big thang to the rest of you, but I just realized what a chump I’ve been. All the talking-head comments about him being a “work horse” and an “under the radar” player have lulled me into feeling apathetic towards the No. 5 player in the world. I wish the commentators would describe him more often as a “player’s player” with “sneaky power”, “canny court sense”, and “fantastic footwork.” To be honest, maybe they do, but since I’ve only watched a couple of his matches this year, I wouldn’t know. Shame on me!
So I already have a resolution for ’09 – watch more Kolya.
Tags: tennis
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Completely agree – I used to think the same until I started following him more closely. He’s super fit (regularly goes 5 sets and comes out on top), consistent, accurate, aggressive (taking the ball early + going for the lines) and his Grand Slam record speaks for itself.
He was unfortunate to be a top tenner in Federers heyday and he’s certainly not box office which has meant he’s been unfairly overlooked in favour of less talented but more charismatic players (like Roddick and Gonzales).
And in winning Miami he set me right on another count – the guy can now volley too – so what’s not to like!?
I guess for me he still needs to play and win more on grass (what was he doing winning Sopot on clay in the run up to the grass court season!?) but the guy deserves more respect than he gets, that’s for sure.
The thing about Davydenko is he folds under pressure a LOT. He’s a very good player, but he appears not to have the belief in himself that he can actually win against an equal or better player. I believe he will fall out of the top 10 in 2009.
Hey everyone. I always underestimate him, but I guess I shouldn’t. He’s fit and moves the ball around well. I wonder, though, if he could use a little bit more muscle because he can get pushed around by guys like Federer and Nadal, and even Roddick and Blake.
He’s kind of like this era’s version of Michael Chang to me: a top-five player basing his game on speed and court sense, but can be blasted off the court by some of the true big hitters.
I say watch him now FF because he won’t be hanging around the top echelon for much longer. There are too many bigger hitters on the rise and equal, if not better, movers that he’ll need to overcome. These young ballers are growing in stature and getting more consistent – these aspects can overcome his strengths and then he’ll be toast.
I say he may have another good year, if that, maybe half of next season. I think by Fall ’09 he’ll be falling down the rankings. He didn’t have a great year at the majors (didn’t reach a single quarterfinal) so I don’t expect him to improve on these results next season. He may pick up an odd title or even a Master Series, but he’s on the downswing for sure.
Catch him while you can!
Hey y'all. Yeah, I had the same sense, too – it does seem like Kolya's slipping a bit.
But at the same time, his serve has improved and the gambling allegations are through, so maybe he just needs a little off season R&R.
But I will watch him more than twice next year! That's my resolution.
Davydenko’s the man! Just don’t bet on him…