TENNIS in DEPTH.

Today’s Qatar Exxon Mobil Final must go down as one of the all time greatest comebacks by any player. After losing 6-0 in the first set, Nicolay Davydenko rallied to win 0-6, 7-6, 6-4 against Rafael Nadal. Nadal had match points in the tie breaker but couldn’t put the game Russian away. He led 4-1 in the fourth set, but Davydenko came back to tie and then go ahead. Nadal, who was outplayed by the ground strokes of Davydenko, continued with his game plan that had worked in the first set when Davydenko was still asleep, but he should have changed when it became obvious that Davydenko was hitting the ball with perfect depth, and close to the lines.

Davydenko is now one of the few players who have beaten both Nadal and Federer in tournament, and he has pulled of the feat twice!

Davydenko is the hottest player on the ATP Tour right now and must be considered as a potential winner of the upcoming Aussie Open. In past Grand Slams he has failed to be consistent over the two week period of a slam, and has only made a final on one occasion.

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The world’s top two players, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, launched their 2010 ATP Tour campaigns with straight-set wins at the Qatar Open.

World number one and top seed Federer cruised past Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-1 6-2 in the first round in Doha.

Earlier on Tuesday, Nadal, who is carrying less muscle bulk than last year, beat Simone Bolelli 6-3 6-3.

Bolelli was broken twice in the first set and once in the second by Nadal, who closed the match out with an ace.

Other winners on Tuesday included Poland’s Lukasz Kubot, who thrashed Karim Maamoun of Egypt 6-0 6-2, and Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco, who defeated American Ryler DeHeart 7-6 (7-3) and 7-6 (7-4).

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Fourth-seeded Andy Roddick moved into the second round of the Qatar Open with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ivan Navarro of Spain on Monday.

Fifth-seeded Gael Monfils of France also advanced with 6-2, 6-2 win over Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic.

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