Nikolay Davydenko believes that his success at the Miami Masters has given him a boost going into the clay court season.
Russian fourth seed brushes aside Ljubicic
Nikolay Davydenko believes that his success at the Miami Masters has given him a boost going into the clay court season.
The fourth-seeded Russian moved through to the third round of the Hamburg Masters with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Ivan Ljubicic.
And Davydenko feels the boost he got from his Miami win over Rafael Nadal has helped him take his good form on to the clay despite it not being his best surface.
"Playing in Miami was much easier for me than playing on clay but maybe winning that tournament has helped mentally," Davydenko said.
"My tennis is still the same but when you feel good you try to make more winners."
Davydenko needed an hour and 24 minutes to brush aside Ljubicic, with the Croatian guilty of a number of unforced errors.
In the match of the day, thirteenth seed Tommy Robredo came from a set down to eventually get the better of home hopeful Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The German produced some stunning tennis to take the first set 6-2 with Robredo struggling to deal with his powerful, accurate groundstrokes.
However, the match swung on a disputed line call in the second with umpire Gerry Armstrong rescuing Robredo from a break of serve with an over-rule that he subsequently conceded was wrong but was unable to change on appeal.
Kohlschreiber maintained his composure to force a tie-break but, despite securing a mini-break to lead it 5-3, proceeded to lose four straight points as Robredo levelled the match.
The Spaniard then held his nerve in the decider, securing a solitary break and serving out to record a battling 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 victory.
Robredo's compatriot Fernando Verdasco is also through to the third round after he crushed Michael Llodra 6-2 6-0.
There were two retirements from the first round of action with injuries ending the hopes Kristof Vliegen and Luis Horna against Jose Acasuso and Potito Starace respectively.
Carlos Moya, the 11th seed, overcame a slow start to beat Julien Benneteau 3-6 6-4 7-6 (9-7), while Janko Tipsarevic toppled Andreas Beck 3-6 6-3 6-1.
