Estoril Open 2006 News and Events

For the first time since capturing the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai over ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer, David Nalbandian appears in an ATP final.

The top-seed knocked out Spain’s Albert Portas 7-5, 6-1 in one hour and 18 minutes on Court Central at the Estoril Open on Saturday.

Portas last appeared in an ATP semifinal at Palermo in 2001, but was overawed by the serving brilliance of Nalbandian (73% points won on first serve).

Nalbandian, already a semifinalist at the Australian Open (l. Baghdatis) and at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Miami (l. Ljubicic), extends his career record in Estoril to 9-1.

The Argentine will look to add to his 2002 title – the last time he played at the Estadio Nacional – on Sunday, against Nikolay Davydenko.

Davydenko, the second-seeded champion of 2003, won his first career match in five meetings over Carlos Moya – the winner in 2000 – in the second semifinal.

The Russian fought back from a one set deficit to beat No. 6 seed Moya 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 50 minutes.

Davydenko advances to his seventh career ATP singles final, extending his winning record this season to 21-11.

Nalbandian is tied 2-2 with Davydenko in their career series, but the Argentina won their last meeting en route to the Tennis Masters Cup title in Shanghai, 6-0, 7-5.

The pair each holds one win apiece on clay courts. Playing for Argentina, Nalbandian beat Davydenko in the 2003 World Group, while Davydenko won their 2003 Barcelona clash.