Tue Jun 24 12:11:54 2008

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Davydenko bows out at Wimbledon

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Wimbledon, England (Sports Network) - World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko was a first-round loser Tuesday at Wimbledon 2008.

Big-serving German Benjamin Becker doused the Russian Davydenko in 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 fashion on a sun-drenched Day 2 on the grass at the All England Club.

Davydenko, who dislikes playing on grass, is now a career 4-7 at Wimbledon. He actually reached the fourth round here a year ago after going 1-5 in his previous five trips to the AEC.

The 27-year-old Davydenko tuned up for the Wimbledon grass by titling at a clay-court event in Warsaw two weeks ago.

Eighth-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet tattooed American Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to improve to 6-1 in his last seven matches at Wimbledon. Gasquet lost to five-time champion Roger Federer in last year's semifinals here.

American men are a dismal 1-7 in opening-round play over the first two days of this fortnight.

Fourteenth-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu came from behind to advance, which he did with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-2 decision against Spaniard Oscar Hernandez, while 16th-seeded Radek Stepanek moved on with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-0 decision against fellow Czech Jan Hernych.

In other action involving seeds, No. 23 Spaniard Tommy Robredo got past Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-1, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4; No. 24 Finn Jarkko Nieminen topped American Wayne Odesnik 6-3, retired; and No. 27 German Nicolas Kiefer erased Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-1, 7-5, 6-3.