Top seed and world number four Nikolay Davydenko shook off the
effect of jet lag to beat American Zack Fleishman in his opening
match at the China Open in Beijing on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Russian, who came into Beijing only on Monday
night, sent the American packing in just 67 minutes with a solid
6-3, 6-3 victory.
He will take on Croat Marin Cilic, who overcame a first set
slump to beat German Rainer Schuettler 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 earlier
this afternoon.
The then fifth-ranked Russian only reached the quarterfinals
here last year, losing to 47-ranked Thai Paradorn Srichaphan 6-2,
1-0, retiring with a questionable foot injury in the match and
consequently causing an avalanche of protest from the Chinese fans.
His first Chinese tour ended up with controversial sightseeing and
shopping with his girlfriend.
But last year's disappointment was never getting on his nerves
on Tuesday as the workaholic, who is playing his 26th tournament
this season,
The bald Russian number one has also been involved in a betting
scandal stretching to last month when he retired from a match
against nobody Argentine Martin Vassalo Arguello in the Poland
Open, which triggered an ATP investigation towards him.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2007)
