Davydenko masters Nadal

Davydenko: Shanghai champion

I'll enjoy this week and I don't want to think about what's going to happen tomorrow or in the next tournament.

Nikolay Davydenko
Quotes of the week

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Nikolay Davydenko stunned top seed Rafael Nadal with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 victory at the Shanghai Masters final.

The sixth seed employed aggressive tactics against the world number two to dominate the high-quality showdown, winning a tight first set 7-3 in a tie-break before getting the only break of the second to seal his fourth title of the year.

"I was so tired at the beginning in the first set. At 4-4 I was thinking I have no chance to win," Davydenko told Sky Sports.

"I cannot believe it. I'm enjoying this. Beating (Novak) Djokovic (in the semi-final) and Nadal is something amazing."

A long rally on the first point of the match set the tone for the baseline battle and, with both players looking to move their opponent around, it was Davydenko who took control.

Spaniard Nadal, whose season has been disrupted by knee and abdominal injuries, struggled from the beginning and despite being involved in some stunning rallies was constantly second best.

Crucial break

The Australian Open champion showed some fight in the second set and briefly dictated play, but world number eight Davydenko broke in the sixth game and closed out the win when Nadal went long with a backhand and a consequent Hawkeye challenge ruled in the Russian's favour.

The defeat marks Nadal's second loss in his last two finals after previously missing out to world number one Roger Federer in Madrid earlier this year.

Davydenko's victory keeps him in the race for one of the three remaining spots in the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in November, but he insists he will be celebrating his latest success before he turns his attention to the London competition.

"I'll enjoy this week and I don't want to think about what's going to happen tomorrow or in the next tournament," he added.

Gracious

Nadal was gracious in defeat and focused on the good things to emerge from his week in Shanghai.

"Today is a loss but it is a positive loss," he said. "I expect to be here for a long time and play without problems for a few more years."

"I just can say I am going to work hard to be at my best as soon as possible and I am not seeing myself very far off that."