Nikolay Davydenko, the ATP World Tour champion, escaped from the brink of his worst defeat for nearly two years before reaching the second round of the ATP Dubai Open here on Tuesday. The Russian was twice within a point of going a break of service down in the second set against Florent Serra, the world number 59 from France, either ...

DUBAI (Reuters) - Russian fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko overcame a surprise first-set loss to beat France's Florent Serra 6-7 6-4 6-1 on Tuesday in an error-strewn first-round battle at the Dubai tennis championships. Sixth seed Marin Cilic had an easier time, thriving in the sweltering conditions to power past Frenchman Arnaud Clement 6-2 6-4. Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had just ...