Tennis / Tony Keen / 13 January 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

The Australian Open is not just about Federer and Nadal, with plenty of legitimate contenders, including Russian Nikolay Davydenko, in line for this year's title, argues Tony Keen.

Davydenko in form

Nikolay Davydenko will head into the first grand slam of the year on a high after winning the Qatar Open.

The 28-year-old accounted for Roger Federer in the semi-finals before, despite failing to win a game in the first set, recording a stunning win over Rafael Nadal.

That victory took Davydenko's unbeaten run to nine matches after he was crowned ATP World Tour champion in London last November.

The Russian downed Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the final of that tournament, meaning he has accounted for the winners of last year's four grand slams.

While all of those victories were in best of three-set matches, rather than a best of five-set match, they show that Davydenko has what it takes to defeat the game's elite.

Solid performer

From 2005-2007, Davydenko reached the quarter-final stage of the Australian Open. In 2008 he managed to reach the fourth round before missing last year's tournament due to a left heel injury.

With this in mind, it would be fair to suggest Davydenko won't be knocked out of the tournament early.

If the Russian is going to have any hope of progressing past the quarter finals of the Australian Open, thus giving himself a real shot at winning the first grand slam of his career, there are two areas which he needs to address.

First, he needs to start well. Davydenko simply does not have the stamina to win five-setters.

And second, he needs to find a way to cope with the pressure that comes with playing on the big stage, as in the past he has been guilty of wilting under fire.

Regardless of this weaknesses, Davydenko is well worth a punt given his current form.