Australian Open - - Nikolay Davydenko Continues With His Impressive Performance Reaching Semi Finals by Beating Spain’s Fernando Verdasco

Nikolay Davydenko, the only Russian remaining at the Australian Open, continues to impress at the first Grand Slam of 2010 following a quarterfinal win over Spain’s Fernando Verdasco.

Davydenko needed four hours in the hot Melbourne sun and all five sets to triumph.

The sixth seed had a great start to the match, taking the opener 6-2, but it wasn’t enough to pull the rug from under Verdasco's feet.

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The Spaniard fought back in the second 5-7, and then was stronger the third 4-6.

He eventually came close to sending the Russian packing in the fourth set, which ended in a tie break.

However, Davydenko looked more solid on decisive points – 7-5 the tie-break score – to level at two sets all and forcing the decider, in which he let his rival take just three games, 6-3.

“He's strong physically, but not mentally,” Davydenko said of Verdasco in an interview with tournament’s official website. “For sure he was strong. For sure he can play five, six sets. But he can’t hold concentration, you know, for all five sets on the same level.”

“I am really tired. Yes. It was difficult to play against him, because if you see the match, he was serving fast, played fast. He made so many winners from forehand,” he added.

The 28-year-old will face the winner of the clash between World No. 1 Roger Federer and home favorite Lleyton Hewitt in the semis.

It will be Davydenko’s fifth career Grand Slam semi-final, which to date he has never been able to surpass.

In another game, Novak Djokovic stayed on track for another Grand Slam singles title at Melbourne Park as the 2008 champion easily advanced into the quarter-finals.

The third seed Serb defeated unseeded Lucasz Kubot of Poland in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, 7-5.