Davydenko Chases Bigger Fish, Joins Ferrero in QFs

© Getty ImagesNikolay Davydenko did not face a break point Wednesday.

Top seed Nikolay Davydenko reeled in a comfortable opening-round win over Stephane Robert at the Studena Croatia Open Wednesday but later revealed that he's chasing bigger fish. In an unusual question from his post-match press conference, Davydenko was asked: "Would you prefer to win a big match against a Top 10 player or catch a really big fish?"

Engaging his dry sense of humour, Davydenko replied: "It depends what kind of fish. I’ve beaten lots of Top 10 players before, but I’ve never caught a Marlin. I’ve tried many times in India and Atlantic Oceans. A sword fish would be nice, too!"

The Russian was equally adept on the court Wednesday as he dropped just nine service points in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Robert and next will play Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela. “It’s really nice to win the first match," said the reigning Barclays ATP World Tour Champion. "I'd never played against him before but I think he’s having his best year on the tour. Chela will be a different opponent in the next round. It’s tough to know how he will play.”

Last year's finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero said that his eyes are on the Umag title after beating Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes. 

The former World No. 1, who beat Cuevas at Roland Garros in May, improved to a 25-7 record on clay courts this year, highlighted by two ATP World Tour titles at the Brasil Open in Costa do Sauipe (d. Kubot) and the Copa Telmex in Buenos Aires (d. Ferrer).

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“I came here with the objective to win the tournament," Ferrero said. "Last year I got to the final and hopefully this year I can go one better, but you have to take it one match at a time. It was great to have the support of the crowd and I will try and give them victory."

Ferrero next meets Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov: "I’ve never played against Dolgopolov, but he’s a good player. The first time you play against someone is always a little bit strange so we will see what happens. It’s great to be through to the quarter-finals on Friday.”

Sixth-seeded Dolgopolov saved all five break points he faced against Croatian wild card Franco Skugor for a 7-6(1), 6-3 win in 90 minutes on Wednesday at the ATP Studena Croatia Open Umag.

"He had some chances to take the first set but then he made a few misses, which helped me," Dolgopolov said. "I got better and better in the second set. It’s great to be through and I’ll rest tomorrow before playing again on Friday.”

Dolgopolov, 21, will look to reach his second ATP World Tour semi-final having reached the last four at the AEGON International in Eastbourne (l. to Llodra) in June. World No. 283 Skugor had never won an ATP World Tour match until a few weeks ago, when he advanced to the SkiStar Swedish Open quarter-finals (l. to Almagro) in Bastad.

Eighth seed Juan Ignacio Chela has recorded back-to-back ATP World Tour wins for the first time since clinching his fifth title at the US Men's Clay Court Championships in April.

The Argentine snapped a two-match losing streak to beat Italian qualifier Simone Bolelli 7-6(5) 6-7(4), 6-1 in two hours and 43 minutes and improve to a 17-17 season mark.