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BEIJING, Sept 14: Top seed Nikolay Davydenko crashed out of the China Open in the second round on Thursday, losing to little-known Croatian teenager Marin Cilic in two quick sets.
The Russian, the world number four playing in his 26th event of the ATP season, paid the price as jet lag finally caught up with him.
Cilic, ranked 117th in the world, needed only 73 minutes to secure a 6-3, 6-4 win over Davydenko, who made it to the semi-finals at the US Open before falling to eventual champion Roger Federer.
Davydenko had a chance to fight back in the second set, moving up 3-0, but Cilic responded with five straight games, putting the match out of reach and securing his career-best victory.
Davydenko, who has 10 career titles but none so far in 2007, will see his ranking drop, as he made it to the quarter-finals in Beijing last year.
Thursday’s results:
Second round: Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Nikolay Davydenko (RUS x1) 6-3, 6-4; Nicolas Kiefer (GER) bt Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA x7) 6-3, 6-4; Tommy Robredo (ESP x3) bt Rik de Voest (RSA) 6-2, 6-3; Igor Kynitsyn (RUS x8) bt Kevin Kim (US) 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.
JANKOVIC FACES
DAVENPORT
NUSA DUA (Indonesia): Serbian top seed Jelena Jankovic on Thursday secured a 6-4, 6-4 win in her opening match at the Bali International, setting up a quarter-final duel with Lindsay Davenport.
Jankovic quickly fell behind 0-4 to Australia’s Casey Dellacqua, but the world number three eventually woke up, winning five straight games to take the opening set. In the second, she was thwarted twice while trying to serve out the match before making good on her third attempt.
Jankovic will face Davenport who won against compatriot Julie Ditty, 6-1, 6-4.
Thursday’s results:
Second round: Sara Errani (ITA) bt Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP x4) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4; Aiko Nakamura (JPN) bt Youlia Fedossova (FRA) 6-2, 6-2; Jelena Jankovic (SRB x1) bt Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-4, 6-4; Lindsay Davenport (US) bt Julie Ditty (US) 6-1, 6-4; Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Patty Schnyder (SUI x3) 6-2, 5-7, 7-5.—Agencies
