Russian captures Sony Open crown

Nikolay Davydenko beat Rafael Nadal in the tournament final.

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP) — Nikolay Davydenko began the Sony Ericsson Open in a supporting role, competing on smaller courts while the likes of Roger Federer and Andy Roddick slugged it out in the stadium.

But Sunday, it was Davydenko holding the championship trophy to cheers from a sellout crowd. He beat Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-2 and became the first Russian man to win Key Biscayne.

“For me it’s mostly crazy,” he said.

In recent months, Davydenko has been best known for an ATP investigation into heavy wagering on a match he lost last August at an obscure tournament in Poland. He retired in the third set, citing a foot injury, and says he did nothing wrong.

There was no question about his effort against Nadal.

Davydenko broke at love to take the lead for good at 4-3 in the first set, and in the second set he lost only two of 19 points on his serve to pull away.

When the No. 4-seeded Davydenko belted one final forehand winner on championship point, he grinned and shook his fists, then punched the air.

Davydenko overcame a match point in the second round against Ernests Gulbis and became the fourth ATP player in 2008 to win a title after facing match point. He beat Roddick in the semifinals.

“He’s playing unbelievable tennis,” the No. 2-seeded Nadal said.

“People like to write more about Roger, about me, about Andy. People outside tennis can think different about Nikolay, but we know he’s a very, very good player.”

Davydenko is ranked fourth and has finished each of the past three years in the top five.

But he has yet to reach a Grand Slam final, and the Key Biscayne title was only his second in a Masters Series event.

He also won a U.S. tournament for only the second time, and he laughed when asked if the accomplishment will make him famous.

“Famous? Here? Yes, I would say if I would like to be famous, I need to win tournaments here,” he said.

“For beginning of tournaments I don’t want to play on center court. It was good for me to play on court one or grandstand, and to feeling little a bit more confidence.”

The 5-foot-10 Daydenko delivered serves up to 132 mph, allowing him to win five service games at love.

He totaled 19 winners and had only 12 unforced errors, and his penetrating groundstrokes to the corners repeatedly made Nadal hit shots late and wide.

The speedy Davydenko also came forward to win 17 points at the net.