Davydenko thrilled to join greats after winning ATP finals

Updated on: 30 November,2009 08:37 AM IST |
AFP |

Russia's Nikolay Davydenko won the ATP World Tour Finals title yesterday with a straight sets victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro at London's O2 Arena.

Russia's Nikolay Davydenko won the ATP World Tour Finals title yesterday with a straight sets victory over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro at London's O2 Arena.

Last year's beaten finalist won 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 24 minutes to claim the season-ending title, disputed among the year's top eight players.

The 28-year-old Russian scooped $1,510,000 in prize money, while the Argentinian collected $740,000.

Davydenko's route to the crown saw him beat Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal, French Open and Wimbledon title-holder Roger Federer and US Open winner Del Potro.

Davydenko, the first Russian to win the season-ending tournament, said he was thrilled to have his name on the trophy. "I was looking, till 2008, so many names there, like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, everyone, Pete Sampras. In 2009, the name Davydenko will stay forever on this trophy. I think it's amazing," he said.

"I know the history of the Masters Cup. That my name is there is something amazing for me."

He added: "I was surprised it was 6-3, 6-4. Before I was playing three-set matches, pretty tough, mostly two hours.

"I was coming in from the first point with 100 per cent concentration.

"I won my first serve, I started to get really good concentration, to be positive, everything was feeling good."
He said some of the prize money would be spent in the Maldives but his target was finally owning a flat in Moscow.

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