DOHA, Qatar (AP)—Nikolay Davydenko of Russia saved two match points Saturday before rallying to beat Rafael Nadal 0-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 to win the Qatar Open.
Davydenko's third straight victory over the second-ranked Spaniard improved his record to 5-4. He also became the 38th male player since the Open Era began in 1968 to win 20 or more titles.
The third-seeded Russian said he was "surprised that I have won."
It was a second consecutive title for Davydenko after winning the London World Tour Finals on Nov. 29. He beat Nadal and Roger Federer in that event, as he did here.
David Nalbandian of Argentina is the only other player to beat Federer and Nadal in the same tournament on two occasions -- at the Madrid Masters and Paris Masters in 2007.