Davydenko survives scare to reach second round in Dubai

NIKOLAY Davydenko survived a first-round scare at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships eventually coming through in three sets against Florent Serra.

EARLY SCARE: Nikolay Davydenko comes through in three sets to reach the second round
in Dubai (Getty Images)

The Russian, who won last month's tournament in Doha, eventually came through 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 to set up a second-round date with Germany's Michael Berrer.

The number four seed was a set and two break points down at 4-4 in the second but won eight successive points to take the match into a deciding set.

Serra's resolve was well and truly broken and after the Frenchman could only manage one game in the final set, Davydenko charged through to take the match winning six consecutive games.

But the Russian admitted he is struggling with a left wrist injury he sustained in a fall in Rotterdam last week and might not last the week in Dubai.

With Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic having sealed their last-16 places on Monday, sixth seed and Australian Open semi-finalist Marin Cilic joined them in the second round after he defeated Arnaud Clement of France 6-2, 6-4.

Meanwhile, fifth seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga won the battle of the French as Michael Llodra retired with a hamstring problem after losing the first set in a tiebreak.