Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, twice a US Open semi-finalist, became another high-ranked contender ousted at the US Open, falling 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to 38th-ranked Frenchman Richard Gasquet yesterday
Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, twice a US Open semi-finalist, became another high-ranked contender ousted at the US Open, falling 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to 38th-ranked Frenchman Richard Gasquet yesterday.
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| Richard Gasquet during his 6-3, 6-4,
6-2 win over Nikolay Davydenko. PIC/AFP |
Gasquet lost only seven of 52 points on his first serve to dominate Davydenko, who fell to Roger Federer in the 2006 and 2007 US Open semi-finals.
Davydenko made his quickest US Open exit since 2005 while Gasquet advanced to a third-round match against either South African Kevin Anderson or Brazilian 26th seed Thomasz Bellucci.
Other US Open seeds already ousted include No 7 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and US ninth seed Andy Roddick.
Cilic out after marathonJapanese qualifier Kei Nishikori dumped 11th seed Marin Cilic in five grueling sets.
Nishikori, ranked 147th, fought off cramping in the hottest day of a scorching week to defeat Cilic 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1.
"I don't know how long I've played now. I'm pretty tired," Nishikori said. "I was cramping from the second set but I kept fighting and fighting and got the fourth set tie-breaker. That was key for me. It was a great match.
The triumph, Nishikori's fifth in a week counting qualifying matches, came on the same court where Japan's Shuzo Matsuoka writhed in cramping agony in 1995, left unaided lest he be defaulted in a move that led to changes in medical treatment of players.
