Nikolay Davydenko out-hit Rafael Nadal today to upset the Spaniard 7-6(3) 6-3 after a little more than two hours of play. The Russian captured his first Masters title and fourth title of the year. Davydenko becomes the first player to win a Masters title that is not named Nadal, Federer and Murray.

In doubles, French troublemakers Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upset Polish duo and sixth-seeds Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-2 6-4. Les enfants problèmes had to knock off some tough teams along their way to the championship, mainly 1 Nestor/Zimonjic and 3 Bhupathi/Knowles.

This is their fourth pairing and first title together. They should stay together since it looks like the pairing is working. The French need another doubles couple since Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra towards the end of their careers.

Championship Sunday
Singles Finals
6 Nikolay Davydenko def. 1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7-6(3) 6-3

Doubles Finals
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-2 6-4

(Images: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images, Andy Wong/AP)

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-1 3-0 ret. (foot)
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4-6 6-4 7-6(1)

Doubles Semifinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-1 6-4

Championship Sunday
Singles Finals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko

Doubles Finals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA)

Sunday’s Order of Play

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Nadal had no troubles dismissing Feliciano Lopez 6-1 3-0 today in Shanghai. Lopez had problems with his ankle in the first set and retired at 3-0 in the second set after just 50 minutes of play. This is the eighth retirement in the tournament this week.

Though the match was not very competitive, Nadal was able to get in some target practice. The Spaniard really started to feel it with his shots, which will be bad news for is opponent tomorrow. If this continues, he could really light it up tomorrow.

In the first semifinal of the day, somehow Novak Djokovic let Nikolay Davydenko get passed him at 4-6 6-4 7-6(1). To Davydenko’s credit, the Russian has a good all-around game and is always dangerous. The win marks his first final appearance in a Masters tournament or grand slam this year. The world no. 8 will now try for his fourth title and first Masters title of the year.

Should he win tomorrow, he would be the first player outside of the Nadal-Federer-Murray axis to win a Masters title this year. To do so, he will have his work cut out of for him tomorrow against Nadal. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head matchup 4-2.

The current world no. 2 is trying for his fourth Masters title of the year. The final will not be a shoe-in for Nadal since he is still trying to get back to top form, but he should be able to win another title if he continues to improve his shotmaking capabilities as he did today.

(Image: AP)

Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 3-6 6-3 ret. (left hip)
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3 2-6 6-2
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-1 4-6 6-1
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. 9 Robin Soderling (SWE) 7-6(4) 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 7-6(2) 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. 5 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) 4-6 7-6(6) 10-6

Saturday's Matches

Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) - 8:00 AM ET
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 4:30 AM ET

Doubles Semifinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT)

Saturday's Order of Play

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Feliciano Lopez knocked off sixteenth-seed David Ferrer in the second round, and today he took out ninth-seed Robin Soderling 7-6(4) 6-3. The Spaniard's semifinal appearance is his best showing in a Masters event or grand slam EVER. The current world no. 41 will play against his friend and top-seed Rafael Nadal in a lefty showdown tomorrow.

Lopez will have his work cut out for him, as Nadal has beaten him four-consecutive times. Anything is possible since Lopez did beat Nadal once in 2003. It should be a good match tomorrow.

On the other side of the draw, Novak Djokovic held off Gilles Simon 6-3 2-6 6-3 in probably the best match of the tournament -- the second best was Blake-Nadal. Nikolay Davydenko defeated Radek Stepanek 6-1 4-6 6-1. Djokovic and Davydenko will now face off in the other semifinal tomorrow. The Serb leads this matchup 2-1. It what should be another good match tomorrow.

(Image: Phillipe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

Singles Third Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-1 6-4
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-4 6-2
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-3 6-3
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-3 7-5
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 11 Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-2 3-0 Ret. (back)
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 3-6 7-6(5) 4-2 Ret. (abdominal strain)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 5-7 7-6(3) 6-1

Singles Quarterfinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. 2 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) 6-1 5-7 10-8
3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. 8 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 4-6 6-3 10-5
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 3-6 6-4 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

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Feliciano Lopez stretches it out during his victory over Jurgen Melzer 5-7 7-6(3) 6-1. This is the Spaniard’s best result in an ATP tournament this year. Lopez will now meet Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals. They have not played in three years, but Lopez leads their head-to-head 3-2. It would be nice to see the Spaniard pull off the upset tomorrow.

(Image: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon advanced into the Shanghai quarterfinals. Djokovic had an easy time dismissing German veteran, Rainer Schuettler 6-4 6-2. The Serb has quietly been advancing through the draw and looks, by far, the most solid of all the players in the field.

On the other side, Gilles Simon had no trouble with the usually problematic Tomas Berdych. He topped the Czech 6-3 6-4 after 90 minutes of play. Both players had been battling injuries this week, but the Frenchman was able to pull this one out.

Simon will meet Djokovic next. The second-seed looks good and leads their head-to-head 3-1. All meetings were on hard surfaces with the Serb winning the last three. It should be a good matchup tomorrow.

(Images: AP)

Singles Second Round

1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. James Blake (USA) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-4

2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Q Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 6-1 

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. 3 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 7-5 2-1 Ret. (right wrist)

5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. WC Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN) 6-3 6-3 

Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 7 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-4 7-6(6)

8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-4

9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-4 7-5

11 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 4-6 6-4 6-2

14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Q Florin Mayer (GER) 4-6 7-6(10) 6-4 - Saved 3 M.P.

Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) def. 15 Tommy Haas (GER) 6-4 Ret. (right shoulder)

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. 16 David Ferrer (ESP) 4-6 7-5 6-1 

Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. WC Marat Safin (RUS) 3-6 6-4 6-4



Doubles Second Round 

J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) 6-4 6-4

2 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 6-3 6-2

3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) 7-5 3-6 10-4

J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. 4 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) 5-7 6-3 10-7

5 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) W/O (Verdasco knee)

6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. L. Dlouhy (CZE)/P. Petzschner (GER) 6-2 7-6(3)

F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. 7 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 5-7 6-3 10-5
8 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. B. Becker (GER) /T. Haas (GER) W/O (Haas - right shoulder)

Thursday’s Order of Play

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Top-seed Rafael Nadal passed James Blake 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4 after 2 hours and 11 minutes of play. Blake gave the Spaniard trouble last week in Beijing and proved to be slightly problematic again this week.

It looked like the Spaniard might wrap up the match quickly after taking the first set and getting a break in the second set. Blake, who is not known for having a plan B or C, was able to change up his tactics a bit and also started to play better. Blake broke back in the second set and was able remain on serve. He finally walked away with the second set in the tiebreak.

In the third set, the players remained on serve until Nadal broke in the fifth game of the third set. Blake was able to break back in game seven. After holding serve at love, Nadal went on attack in game ten. The attack proved too much for the American, and Nadal finally closed out the match.

Nadal now advances to the round of 16 to play compatriot Tommy Robredo. The Majorcan was also aided today when his draw opened up after third-seed Juan Martin del Potro retired in his match with Austrian Jurgen Melzer. The recent US Open champion has had Nadal's number of late, so the Spaniards's possible trip to the final has been made a lot easier.

Fifteenth-seed Tommy Haas also retired to allow Rainer Schuettler to advance. Other downed seeds today include Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer, who loss to Feliciano Lopez no less. Lopez will play Melzer in the next round.

(Image: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci grimaces after a losing point during his 6-3 6-4 loss to Fernando Gonzalez.

(Image: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Singles First Round
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-3 6-4
11 Gael Monfils (FRA) def Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-2 6-2
Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. 12 Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-6(8) 3-6 6-4
15 Tommy Haas (GER) def. Benjamin Becker (GER) 7-6(5) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. John Isner (USA) 6-2 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3 3-6 6-1
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-7(2) 6-1 7-6(6)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-1 6-2

Singles Second Round
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. 4 Andy Roddick (USA) 3-4 ret. (left knee)
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-4 6-2
10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3 6-4
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Andreas Beck (GER) 7-5 6-4

Doubles First Round
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. WC W. Gao (CHN)/X. Yu (CHN) 6-3 6-3
L. Dlouhy (CZE)/P. Petzschner (GER) def. T. Berdych (CZE)/P. Kohlschreiber (GER) w/o (Kohlschreiber - right shoulder)
T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. J. Blake (USA)/J. Isner (USA) 7-5 6-2
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. M. Llodra (FRA) R. Stepanek (CZE) 7-5 7-5

Wednesday’s Order of Play

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One-half of the Czech-Davis-Cup terror duo, Tomas Berdych knocked off twelfth-seed Marin Cilic, who had been playing fantastic over the last couple of months. He bested the Croat 7-6(8) 3-6 6-4. As I was saying yesterday, Spain better heed the warning and take these two seriously. As I digress . . .

Berdych will play Marat Safin in the second-round. Safin leads Berdych 2-0 in their head-to-head match up. Both wins come last year on clay. The big Russian’s final session has not gone well and deteriorates rapidly as he reaches the end of his career, so this could be Berdych’s opportunity to win one before Safin retires.

(Image: Andy Wong/AP)

Singles First Round
10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 7-5 6-7(0) 2-2 Ret. (right wrist)
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6-3 6-0
14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Q Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-1 6-4
16 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-4 6-3
James Blake (USA) def. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 36 76(4) 63
WC Marat Safin (RUS) def. WC Gong Mao Xin (CHN) 6-4 6-4
Stanilas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Q Luckasz Kubot (POL) 2-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3)
Q Florian Mayer (GER) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 6-2
Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)
Q Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. WC Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 7-6(3) 6-3
Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Q Marcos Chiudinelli (SUI) 7-6(3) 6-4

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) 4-6 6-3 11-9
F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 4-6 7-6(4) 11-9
F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) def. J. Monaco (ARG)/T. Robredo (ESP) 7-5 7-6(5)
B. Becker (GER)/T. Haas (GER) def. WC Z. Li (CHN)/Y. Wang (CHN) 7-6(5) 6-0

Tuesday’s Order of Play

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Spanish Davis Cup captain Alberto Costa has his work cut out for him. He has too many possibilities and not enough spots. The Spanish captain has the luxury to choose from Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Feliciano Lopez for five spots. With the exception of Lopez, all of six of his choices are in the top 21. I am sure the other captains could only wish for such a problem. In the semifinals, he had an easier time choosing because Fernando Verdasco and Rafael Nadal were injured, and he could just activate Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ferrero has been solid and now is 2-0 in Davis Cup action.

The Spaniards will meet the Czech Republic in the finals. To my chagrine, this team has taken out some of my teams this year. Unlike the Spaniards, the team does not have a deep bench and really consists of Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych. To get to three wins, they each play singles and doubles.

This one-two punch has sent the French, the Argentines and the Croats packing on their road to the finals. The Czech duo are 6-2 in singles and 3-0 in doubles in Davis Cup this year. They also can both play on clay. Berdych is no slouch and has won three titles on clay. In the semifinals, the Czechs had no trouble dismissing the Croats 4-1 on clay.

Most people think final match up will be a foregone conclusion for Spain, but I do not think it is going to be that easy for the Spanish with or without Rafael Nadal. If Nadal does not play, I do not think Spain will win.

Today, we had a preview of a possible Davis Cup singles match up. Radek Stapanek and Juan Carlos Ferrero went at it today in Shanghai. Stepanek made an easy work of Ferrero. He beat the Spaniard, who has played well of late, 6-3 6-0 in under an hour of play. This result looks like it could be a foreshadowing of things to come. I think I am need to sign off and take some Tums now.

(Images: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Spaniards Tommy Robredo and David Ferrer enjoyed wins over Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Richard Gasquet in singles action today in Shanghai.

After suffering from injuries this year, Michael Llodra has dropped in the rankings. He qualified for the tournament this weekend but unfortunately drew Tommy Robredo in the first round in a bad case of tournament evils. Robredo had no trouble dispatching the French qualifier 6-1 6-4 after 105 minutes of play. The Spaniard’s win draws Robredo ahead 2-1 in their head-to-head match ups.

In another case of tournament evils, Richard Gasquet met David Ferrer. Ferrer had no trouble dealing with Gasquet and bested the Frenchman 6-4 6-3 after just 85 minutes of play. Ferrer managed to break him five times during the course of the match. It could have been a larger rout if Ferrer had not allowed Gasquet to break back twice in the first set.

Today’s victory now gives Ferrer a 5-1 lead over Gasquet in their head-to-head meetings. Though the Frenchman is still trying to get back into form, he has a long way to go. Hopefully, he will put in some long hours of training in the off-season.

Robredo will now meet German Florian Mayer in the next round, and Ferrer will encounter compatriot Feliciano Lopez in another evil match up. Robredo should enjoy his relatively easy second-round match because he could be on a collision course with Rafael Nadal in the round after that.

(Images: Andy Wong/AP, Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Singles First Round
Andreas Beck (GER) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 7-6(2) 1-0 Ret. (left knee)
[WC] Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN) def. Dudi Sela (ISR) 2-6 6-1 6-4
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Guilmero Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-3 6-4
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Igor Andreev (RUS) 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2

Monday’s Order of Play

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