Davydenko puts Russia in front

Nikolay Davydenko drew first blood for Russia in the Davis Cup final when he defeated Juan Ignacio Chela 6-1 6-2 5-7 6-4 in Moscow.

Davydenko wobbled in his first two service games allowing Chela break points in both but the Argentinean could not take advantage of them and even dropped his own serve in the second game.

From then Davydenko was on imperious form allowing Chela no hope at all rushing through the first two sets.

But - possibly aware that he had not beaten this opponent in their five career meetings - began to show one or two uncharacteristic errors and allowed a more aggressive Chela back into the match.

Even in the three set with Chela a break of serve up, the match was more about the errors Davydenko was making.

Suggesting that the third set had been just a slight blip, Davydenko then bounced back at the beginning of the fourth quickly raced to a 4-1 lead.

Chela did fight back once more but the Russian showed exactly why he is ranked third in the world and closed out the match to put the home side one rubber to the good.

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