Doha, Qatar – Former world No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko upset top seed David Ferrer in Friday's semifinal action at the season-opening Qatar Open, a $1.05 million Australian Open tune-up.
The unseeded Davydenko, the 2010 Doha champion and 2011 runner-up, drubbed the Spanish Ferrer in easy 6-2, 6-3 fashion in 64 minutes on the hardcourts at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex. Davydenko is now 4-2 lifetime against the world No. 5 Ferrer.
Saturday's Doha finale will pit the Russian Davydenko against second-seeded world No. 10 French star Richard Gasquet, who handled German qualifier Daniel Brands 7-5, 7-5 in the first semifinal on Friday.
Gasquet is 3-2 lifetime against Davydenko, but the Russian veteran captured their last meeting in Rotterdam last February.
The 26-year-old Gasquet will appear in his 18th career final, seeking an eighth championship, while the 31-year-old Davydenko is 21-6 in his career finals, including a 1-1 mark in Doha.
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