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Miami - As Andy Roddick offered a congratulatory handshake at the net to Nikolay Davydenko, the stoic Russian erupted in laughter.
Beating Roddick felt that good, as Davydenko won 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in the Sony Ericsson Open semi-finals on Friday.
The American was coming off an emotional victory the night before, when he ended his streak of 11 consecutive losses to world No1 Roger Federer.
This time, it was the fourth-seeded Davydenko with the breakthrough. Roddick was 5-0 against him previously.
'That's probably the best he's played against me,' said Roddick, who was philosophical about his roller-coaster 24 hours.
'I'll choose to leave here looking at the positive. I'm obviously disappointed tonight. But, to have a win like I did over Roger was big for me, and hopefully that will stick with me a little bit more.'
Davydenko's opponent in today's final will be second seed Rafael Nadal, who beat Tomas Berdych 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.
Roddick was forced into grinding rallies by Davydenko, who chased down shots and served well, facing only one break point.
Standing behind the baseline, the Russian even read the American's booming serves in the tiebreaker, when he won the final four points served by Roddick.
In the second set, Davydenko rallied from a break down to sweep the final five games, breaking Roddick three times in a row.
'If I come in a little bit to start to returning, I have no chance. It's too fast,' he said. 'It doesn't matter how you return - just get it in the court, and then try your best.'
Davydenko has been playing under a cloud because of an ATP investigation into heavy and odd wagering on an otherwise insignificant match he played in Poland last August.
He says he did nothing wrong, and has criticised the ATP for not reaching a resolution in the case.
'I feel good now,' he said. 'I forget really everything.'
He is the first Russian man to reach the Key Biscayne final, and is seeking his first title this year.
He said he is playing well because he changed rackets before the event, and has used the same racket in all five rounds.
'It has a little bit more string, and I have more control,' he said.
He was a little lucky, too. When his forehand skipped off the net cord for a winner and a 6-4 lead in the tiebreaker, Roddick flung his racket in dismay, and Davydenko patted the net in gratitude.
In the second set, the Russian skipped another winner off the net cord to break for 2-2, then waved an apology with both hands towards a frustrated Roddick.
Nadal needed seven set-points to close out a 73-minute first set against Berdych, then pulled away.
The Spaniard committed no unforced errors in the second set, won 16 of 17 points on his serve and swept the final 12 points.
He gleefully skipped at the net when he put away a volley to reach match point. He then hit a forehand winner and sank to his knees in jubilation.
'I am playing very well this tournament,' he said. 'Today was a great match.'
Nadal, the runner-up to Federer at Key Biscayne in 2005, is pleased to be back in the final but unhappy to still be in the United States.
The tournament was traditionally held in mid-March but now stretches into April because of its television contract.
Nadal felt the change condenses the upcoming clay-court season.
'If you see the calendar, that is unbelievable,' said Nadal, whose best surface is clay. 'It's not fair.'
The 10th-seeded Berdych kept pace initially with the super-fit Spaniard, but sagged in the hot sunshine.
He began to struggle with his dangerous forehand and finished with 34 unforced errors to 11 for Nadal.
AP
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