Nikolay Davydenko wins 22-point tiebreak en route to straight sets at Pilot Pen

Top-seeded Davydenko advances at Pilot Pen

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko credits one good return at the end of a 22-point tiebreaker with sending him into the third round of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament.

“That was the key to the match,” he said. “If he makes an ace, I can lose.”

Instead, Davydenko hit a strong backhand return that American Robert Kendrick put into the net, ending a 53-minute first set. The Russian went on to win 7-6 (10), 6-3.

“He put it right at my feet,” Kendrick said. “I deserved it, I should have served to his forehand.”

The eighth-ranked Davydenko struggled with Kendrick’s serve, which occasionally topped 130 mph, giving up a dozen aces. But he broke Kendrick at love to go up 5-3 in the second set and served out the match.

After missing most of the spring with a heel injury, Davydenko is trying to do more than just get his game in shape for next week’s U.S. Open.

“For me, it’s important winning matches also here,” Davydenko said. “If I’m winning (the) tournament, I’m making points here. … For me, it’s important for the ranking.”

Second-seeded Fernando Verdasco of Spain also advanced with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Paul Capdeville. Third-seed Tommy Robredo of Spain wasn’t as fortunate, getting upset 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5) by Jose Acasuso.

Kendrick was among three Americans who lost to Russians on Tuesday. Taylor Dent fell to Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-4, and Kevin Kim lost to Igor Andreev 6-3, 6-1.

In the women’s draw, Samantha Stosur needed almost 3 hours to beat Frenchwoman Alize Cornet after a first set that rivaled Davydenko and Kendrick. The Australian ended up losing the set after nearly 90 minutes, but won the match 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-4.

“It was a bit of a battle out there,” Stosur said. “I got through the second set pretty quick and then started to feel better about things. The third was pretty tight. I was pleased with the way I was able to get out of it and come back from a set down.”

Amelie Mauresmo also advanced with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Alona Bondarenko; Marion Bartoli defeated Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; and third-seeded Flavia Pennetta defeated Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania 6-1, 6-2.

“I was very focused on my game, and it was working pretty good,” Pennetta said.

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki was scheduled to play her first match Tuesday night against Carla Suarez-Navarro.