By Sean Bradley
© AP Photo
(January 7, 2011) Rafael Nadal has just lost to the former champion of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Nikolay Davydenko. Davydenko took Nadal in just two sets, 6-3, 6-2 and advances to the final where he will face Roger Federer for the final.
Davydenko won the first set in 40 minutes, committing only 4 unforced errors, while forcing Nadal to commit 12. The Russian also scored 3 aces and won 81% of his first serve points in the first set. He continues with his winning record against the reigning king of tennis, 6-4.
Nadal had been battling a virus during the tournament, even taking a break yesterday to see a doctor, complaining about excessive perspiration. He certainly had something to sweat about this evening (in Qatar), as his shirt-drenched effort was just not enough to take down the powerful Russian.