TENNIS in DEPTH.

In what could well be the best match of the day, Novak Djokovic, the No. 3 seed, takes on No. 6 seed Nikolay Davydenko in the second singles match of the day. The two met just last month in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, with Davydenko edging Djokovic in a third set tie-break. After the loss Novak admitted that he was outplayed by Davydenko, and added that he doubted that any player on the ATP tour could have beaten him on that particular day. Both players should be thrilled by the O2 surface as it enhances both their games, and should produce the best tennis of the event so far, especially after Sunday’s less than spectacular beginning.

 Although they have split their past four meetings, Djokovic notched his two wins over the Russian at last year’s Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, once in the round robin portion and again in the final. Djokovic is the in form player on the ATP World Tour since the US Open, going 18-1 (the only loss coming to Davydenko). He enters with a 10-match winning streak after back-to-back titles in Basel (d. Federer) and ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris (d. Monfils). He also won in Beijing (d. Cilic) last month.

• In doubles Group B action, No. 2 seeds Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan square off against No. 7 seeds Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram. The Bryans won their seventh Grand Slam doubles title together at the Australian Open this year. Mirnyi and Ram captured their lone title together at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in April.

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