Long-running match-fixing probe wearing down Davydenko

AFP, August, 2008

NEW YORK (AFP) — An ATP drama which has stretched for more than a year is wearing down Nikolay Davydenko, who still managed to produce a rare easy win to reach the second round of the US Open on Wednesday.

Instead of a struggle, the 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 sweep of Israeli Dudi Sela was a tonic for the fifth-seeded, under-fire Russian.

Davydenko has been on tenterhooks since August, 2007, after being named in a potential match-fix at an event in Poland after losing a match which he had been tipped to easily win.

He and his camp have vigorously denied any claims of impropriety over an anonymous contest which somehow generated a massive seven million dollars in online betting.

Even after a long-running probe by tennis authorities, nothing is settled. But the drama is draining to a player who once defined over-achievement by playing ...