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DUBAI, Feb 28: Russia’s Marat Safin made an impressive return from a six-month injury layoff on Tuesday when he beat compatriot and world number five Nikolay Davydenko 4-6 6-2 6-2 in the first round of the Dubai Open.
Safin had not played since August after a knee ligament tear he suffered at Wimbledon became too painful for him to continue.
Now ranked 53, the former world number one made a positive start, holding a break point in the second game that third seed Davydenko saved with an ace.
A double-fault from Safin gave his fellow Russian a break for 3-2 and Safin failed to convert three more break points as Davydenko served out the set.
Things improved rapidly in the second set and Safin broke to lead 2-0 with a forehand winner.
He was able to fight off three break points at 3-1, two of them with aces, and he levelled the match by breaking again at 5-2.
Hitting his forehand well and ending with 10 aces, Safin always looked the more comfortable player in the final set.
Results: Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) bt Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) 7-5 1-6 6-4; Bjoern Phau (Germany) bt Giorgio Galimberti (Italy) 5-7 6-3 6-2; Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) bt John van Lottum (Netherlands) 6-3 7-6; Marat Safin (Russia) bt Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 4-6 6-2 6-2; Younes El Aynaoui (Morocco) bt Wesley Moodie (South Africa) 6-4 6-4.
DOHA: Fifth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia overcame a stiff challenge from the Czech Republic’s Kveta Peschke to advance into the second round of the WTA Qatar Open.
Hantuchova won 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-1 in two hours and 48 minutes to set up a second round clash with China’s Na Li.
Maria Kirlienko also advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Li Ting while Marion Bartoli accounted for the Neha Uberoi 6-0, 7-6 (7/5).
First round results: Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) bt Kveta Peschke (CZE) 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-1; Maria Kirilenko (RUS) bt Li Ting (CHN) 6-2, 6-4; Marion Bartoli (FRA) bt Neha Uberoi (USA) 6-0, 7-6 (7/5); Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) bt Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 6-4, 6-3.
—Agencies
