[Filo V.]

H2H is 7-0 Blake, but these two haven't met since 2009, before James' knee injuries have rendered him essentially a part-time player. This is Blake's second tournament of the season, and in his first event at Memphis he wasn't able to truly put forth a reasonable performance due to his knee issues. Davydenko has had a very up-and-down season overall but has continued to show flashes of why he was a top 5 player a few seasons ago.

James' advantage in this match-up has been his ability to smack Davydenko's serve around on return, protect his own serve and use his speed to his advantage and frustrate Davy, but without his knees 100% I can't see him being able to keep with Davydenko in any high-pace rallies. James will be motivated, and if he's fit, he can be competitive in this match, but I have Davydenko winning in straights and breaking his winless record against the American.

 

[Deathless Mortal]

I was just looking at their H2H and this is the score for their first meeting
2002 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard R64 Blake, James
6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 RET Stats

 

[BroTree123]

Blake in 2.

 

[misty1]

Everything you say is true but there are 3 things working against davy:

1. the H2H itself. There might also be a mental battle here. Does davy even believe that he can beat james?

2. Davy might not be 100% himself

3. I bet this is a late match and that will give James alot of energy

I expect a routine win for james. Something like 6-3, 6-4

 

[Deathless Mortal]

Everything you say is true but there are 3 things working against davy:

1. the H2H itself. There might also be a mental battle here. Does davy even believe that he can beat james?

2. Davy might not be 100% himself

3. I bet this is a late match and that will give James alot of energy

I expect a routine win for james. Something like 6-3, 6-4

Not a night match, second on central court after 11am local time.

I expect Davydenko to win easily, Blake has no form whatsoever, losing to Sweeting 0 & 2 speaks for itself.

 

[BroTree123]

^^
It's all about the awesome phenomenon of match-up :shrug:.

 

[motorhead]

Not a night match, second on central court after 11am local time.

I expect Davydenko to win easily, Blake has no form whatsoever, losing to Sweeting 0 & 2 speaks for itself.

Denko almost got bagelled by Bubka a week ago....

 

[Deathless Mortal]

^^
It's all about the awesome phenomenon of match-up :shrug:.

Well, the last match they've played Blake won 6-7 7-6 6-3. I doubt it's the match-up that won him the 2nd set tiebreak.

 

[Deathless Mortal]

Denko almost got bagelled by Bubka a week ago....

Almost, but still won the set.
Blake, on the other hand, got bageled by Sweeting.

 

[BroTree123]

Well, the last match they've played Blake won 6-7 7-6 6-3. I doubt it's the match-up that won him the 2nd set tiebreak.

It's called "giving false hope" before taking it away from them :bowdown:

 

[motorhead]

Almost, but still won the set.
Blake, on the other hand, got bageled by Sweeting.

thing is with these two guys at the moment it's quite hard to have an idea of what will be their condition on the court. probably Denko has an edge here, I'm supporting Blake just because of the long break he had to go through.

 

[Deathless Mortal]

Maybe I am overestimating Nikolay's chances here, but the fact is Blake only played that one match against Sweeting this year. So in 3 months, he's played one match in which he won 2 games. :shrug:

 

[tennishero]

denko quite easily too

 

[MuzzahLovah]

I wouldn't think Blake had any chance, but he beat Del Potro badly only a few months ago, so I have no idea.

 

[TBkeeper]

I think Blake in 3 ... Idk why i think so .....by the way the crowd too is against Davy !

 

[EddieNero]

If the courts in Miami got sped up as they say it should be really entertaining.

 

[TBkeeper]

IF the courts are sped up it really is +1 for blake

 

[Allez]

Blake is no longer the player he once was. Even a declining Davydenko will be too consistent for James. We can forget about that H2H. I'd love for Blake to win but I just do not see it.

 

[KrisJB]

I was just looking at their H2H and this is the score for their first meeting
2002 US Open
NY, U.S.A. Hard R64 Blake, James
6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 RET Stats

There was no retirement in this match, James won in four.

As for the match in Miami, I suppose James to make more fight than vs. Sweeting, however I expect him to lose something like 5-7, 3-6. I saw his recent photos on Facebook and he seemed to be slimmer and less fatty but he needs more matches to get into rhythm.

 

[Chris Kuerten]

7-0

Never would've expected that. But you can't really say anything useful about this match.