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Davydenko feeling strong after second round win

13/05/2008

Nikolay Davydenko thinks his new found mental strength gained by winning the Miami Masters is benefiting him on clay.

The Russian fourth-seed moved into the third round of the Hamburg Masters defeating Ivan Ljubicic 6-4 6-1 and believes he has brought his form from the US to Germany.

He defeated Rafael Nadal in the final and said the win has "helped mentally".

"My tennis is still the same but when you feel good you try to make more winners," he told Reuters.

It took the Russian just an hour and 24 minutes to dispose of his Croatian opponent and register his tenth win on clay this season.

"It's always difficult to play your first match of a tournament, it doesn't matter how confident you feel," he said.

This was Davydenko's first win over Ljubicic since 2004 in Monte-Carlo and he expressed a desire to do well in the upcoming French Open.

"I didn't play well in Rome last week when I lost to Tommy Robredo (in the third round) and I want to do well here in preparation for Roland Garros," he told the AFP.