WHAT Nikolay Davydenko lacks in charisma he more than makes up for in durability and the resilient Russian showed his determination to take his place among the world’s top eight players once again when the ATP World Tour’s last prestigious title of the year is battled out in London in four weeks time.

In the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals’ previous guise, the Tennis Masters Cup, staged at Shanghai’s Qi Zhong Stadium, Davydenko’s presence was omnipresent through the past four years. Indeed, 12 months ago he reached the final by ousting a physically spent Andy Murray, only to lose to Novak Djokovic.

Davydenko finally triumphed 4-6 6-4 7-6 over the Serb, who won last week’s title in Beijing, but his powers of recovery will be subjected to the ultimate test in today’s final as he encounters a rejuvenated Rafael Nadal, who was delayed just 50 minutes before his friend and compatriot Feliciano Lopez became the ninth player in this event to retire injured.

Shows of emotion, be they of delight or sorrow, are rare from the unimposing and slight man from Volgograd. Nevertheless, revenge was clearly sweet for Davydenko, who started the day outside the top eight in the race for London places but overtook Sweden’s Robin Soderling to earn a place among the potential qualifiers as he outlasted Djokovic with a indomitable performance over three hours and two minutes.

The odds are stacked against Davydenko as he bids to win his second title in this autumnal Asian swing after hoisting his third trophy of the year in Kuala Lumpur a fortnight ago. Admittedly the 28-year-old has beaten Nadal twice in their six previous meetings: in the Miami final 18 months ago and most recently almost a year ago when Nadal retired injured. But he admitted: “I have a good feeling about playing against Rafa. I have maybe a little bit confidence for this one.”

Today’s top-seeded opponent, who appears to have purged the memory of his uncharacteristically lacklustre semi-final exit a week ago against Marin Cilic in Beijing, said: “I watched the match against Djokovic and Nikolay is clearly playing with a lot of intensity and rhythm.

“I don’t know if it will be a problem because we all have to be ready to play three hours one day and go out to play again the next. Maybe it’s more of an advantage for him. He finished his match against Novak really well and when you go that long distance and play so good at the finish it gives you a lot of self-belief.”

Lopez, winner of just one set in five previous meetings with Nadal, started promisingly before saying “no mas” with the scoreboard reading 6-1 3-0. After two on-court visits from ATP trainer Clay Sneitman that saw socks and shoes pulled on and off and bandages wrapped and then removed, the Spaniard declared his sprained right ankle was too painful to continue.

Fortunes have certainly changed for Nadal, whose year has been marred by injuries. After losing his French Open title and then being forced to miss Wimbledon because of tendinitis in both knees and then suffering a torn abdominal muscle at the US Open, he maintains he is now fully fighting fit and almost frustrated that the competitive year only has a few more weeks to run.

“I’m just happy to be in the final — my first after the injury comeback,” said Nadal.