• Winston-Salem Open

Davydenko suffers US Open setback

Nikolay Davydenko lacked his usual aggression against Sergiy Stakhovsky at the Winston-Salem Open © Getty Images

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Nikolay Davydenko, the two-time US Open semi-finalist, crashed out of the Winston-Salem Open at the third round stage on Wednesday.

Davydenko reached the last four at Flushing Meadows in 2006 and 2007, but preparations have not gone to plan ahead of the latest edition of the year's final grand slam, after he lost to Sergiy Stakhovsky. Ninth seed Stakhovsky was always in control for a 6-4 6-4 victory.

It was the second serve of Davydenko that was particularly penetrable, offering up easy winners for his Ukrainian rival. Three breaks of serve to one was enough to book Stakhovsky a place in the next round.

Top seed Andy Roddick continued his winning ways with a 6-1 6-3 thumping of Colombia's Santiago Giraldo. The American lost a mere eight points on his serve en route to a 66-minute victory.

John Isner, the big-serving American, also advances after a one-sided 7-6(4) 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen. Isner hit 10 aces and needed just 64 minutes to see off his Finnish opponent.

No. 7 seed Juan Monaco had little trouble overpowering Japan's Kei Nishikori in their third round encounter. The Argentine taking the match 6-0 6-3 in just 71 minutes.

Marcos Baghdatis started slowly against Steve Darcis, but ultimately prevailed 7-5 6-0. Nine aces and a generally strong first serve allowed the Cypriot to cruise to a comfortable straight sets win.

Elsewhere, qualifier Julien Benneteau continues to impress after he knocked out powerful Russian Igor Andreev. Benneteau edged the deciding tiebreaker for a 2-6 6-1 7-6(5) victory.

There were also wins for third seed Alexandr Dolgopolov over Grigor Dimitrov and 10th seed Robin Haase against Pierre-Ludovic Duclos.

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