Inspired Davydenko beats Nadal to win Shanghai Masters

(Reuters)

An inspired Nikolay Davydenko beat top seed and world number two Rafa Nadal 7-6 6-3 to become the first Shanghai Masters champion today.

The sixth seed blasted winners from both sides throughout the match, winning a tight first set 7-3 in the tiebreak and then getting the only break of the second to secure his fourth title of the year.

Spaniard Nadal, still short of his best form after the knee and abdominal injuries that disrupted his season, battled gamely in his first final since May but always looked second best against the gutsy Russian.

Davydenko, the world number eight, sealed his fourth win four finals this year when the Australian Open champion went long with a backhand after two hours, and a subsequent Hawkeye challenge ruled in the Russian's favour.