Masters Cup
Gold Group:
N DAVYDENKO (Rus) v * J-W TSONGA (Fra)
6-7 (6-8) 2-1
* denotes server
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606: DEBATE
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By Piers Newbery
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Second set:
Davydenko 2-1 Tsonga
Another wacky game sees Tsonga let a break point slip away, after the schizophrenic Davydenko mixes big first serves with some woeful volleying. It's probably not the best place to try a completely new game-plan, Still, Davydenko comes through and Tsonga looks furious as he heads to the chair and tears off his shirt.
Davydenko 1-1 Tsonga
Who'd have thought it? Davydenko plays a blinder, making a succession of punishing returns and breaking to love with a forehand winner down the line. Mrs Davydenko looks a bit more cheerful than her brother-in-law.
0939: "I think the high backhand volley he missed in the tie-break was still affecting Davydenko there, he looked rocked back on his heels."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra
Davydenko 0-1 Tsonga
Things are looking grim for Davydenko when he slips 0-40 down, just as he did in the opening game of the match. That time he fought his way out of trouble but this time he cannot contain Tsonga, who thumps a forehand winner on his second break points. Davydenko's brother/coach in the stands looks suitably miserable.
First set:
Davydenko 6-7 (6-8) Tsonga
Ouch. That is an absolute shocker for Davydenko. He starts the tie-break like a man possessed - possibly by the ghost of Pat Rafter. The Russian storms the net at every opportunity and gets the early break at 2-1 but cannot capitalise. Tsonga recovers for 3-3 with a brave sortie to the net and earns two set points after a Davydenko forehand error.
It's not over, though, and the Russian recovers from 6-4, saving the second set point with a fizzing backhand winner. It's all to no avail, however, as he sticks a high backhand volley into the bottom of the net at 6-7 down. The Tsonga camp are on their feet in the stands and their man is in charge now.
Davydenko 6-6 Tsonga
The first sniff of a break comes when Davydenko double-faults to go 15-30 down but he gets back to 30-30, and Tsonga then misses a backhand down the line by a whisker. Davydenko thinks he's hit an ace for the game but the computer says 'no' and he follows up with another double-fault for deuce. After a jittery couple of serves a fantastic rally ensues, Davydenko eventually taking it with a smash, and the Russian takes the game with a big serve, big forehand one-two.
Davydenko 5-6 Tsonga
Tsonga edges ahead again with a hold to 15 and we're heading for a tie-break.
Davydenko 5-5 Tsonga
Davydenko holds to 15 and receives barely a ripple of applause. The tennis is great so far but the atmosphere is rather lacking.
Davydenko 4-5 Tsonga
Tsonga makes a couple of unforced errors from 40-0 to bring a little bit of pressure but Davydenko kindly responds with a mistake of his own and the Frenchman holds.
Davydenko 4-4 Tsonga
Tsonga calls for the first Hawkeye challenge of the day when Davydenko goes close with a forehand at 30-15 up - but the Russian caught the line and goes on to hold with a rather awkward looking backhand volley..
 Tennis Masters Cup group photo (ATP)
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Davydenko 3-4 Tsonga
More swashbuckling stuff from Tsonga, who piles a drive-volley down the line, smacks an ace and then angles away a backhand volley for a superb hold.
Davydenko 3-3 Tsonga
Having lavished praise on Tsonga, good old Nikolay is doing his bit down the other end and, after another easy hold, is leading the ace count 4-2.
Davydenko 2-3 Tsonga
Tsonga is now rattling through his service games and he is hard man to stop if the serve is working well. He's reminiscent of Marat Safin (when the Russian was good) and even has a touch of Pete Sampras about him when he attacks the net. He'll almost certainly lose in straight sets now.
Davydenko 2-2 Tsonga
Davydenko finds two aces of his own to stay on level terms. Meanwhile, Djokovic is delighted to have won his first-ever match at the Masters Cup after losing all three last year. "Last year I didn't have a lot of success, I lost every single match I played, but this time is different," he said after beating Del Potro.
0847: "It's fascinating to see how the young players react at the Masters Cup. So far, Tsonga has carried on the tennis he has played everywhere else. He doesn't hold anything back and it's terrific to watch."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra
Davydenko 1-2 Tsonga
Cripes. Tsonga finds his range on serve and absolutely creams a couple of aces that draw gasps from the otherwise very quiet crowd. Davydenko loses his range off the forehand and it's a comfortable hold fro Tsonga.
Davydenko 1-1 Tsonga
Davdydenko is looking pretty good, cracking a couple of winners off both forehand and backhand and taking the game with a drop-shot that Tsonga cannot return. Unusually deft stuff from the Russian.
Davydenko 0-1 Tsonga
Tsonga may be the big draw here but Davydenko makes the stronger start, racing to 0-40 on the Frenchman's serve. Tsonga wakes up in time and gets back to deuce, thanks to a thumping smash and an ace. Davydenko has Tsonga moving all over the place but J-W eventually holds - a great game.
 Roddick, Murray and Federer get togged up in Shanghai
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This year they have gone for rather disappointing shiny suits but in 2009 the tournament will be in London and I'm already thinking.... beefeaters!
0829: The players are out - Tsonga wins the toss and will serve first.
0825: Our man Murray will be in action on Monday, at 1200 GMT, against Andy Roddick, after Roger Federer has taken on Gilles Simon. We will be covering all of the Scot's matches via live text and anything else that takes our fancy, but you can hear commentary on every single match with 5 Live Sports Extra.
0820: Morning all, and welcome to day one of the finale to the men's tennis year. Lord knows why but the rest of the world is persisting with the quaint custom of having their own time, meaning an early start for us today.
The opening match has just finished and Novak Djokovic has just enjoyed a battling win over Juan Martin del Potro. We are all set for the extrovert, unpredictable and charismatic Jo-Wilfried Tsonga against.... Nikolay Davydenko. Should be quite a clash of styles.
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