Davydenko wins 'not trying' fine appeal

SHANGHAI: Troubled tennis star Nikolay Davydenko received a boost on Tuesday when his appeal against a fine for "lack of effort" was upheld.   

The Russian world number four was slapped with a 2,000 dollar penalty after an error-strewn defeat to Croatian qualifier Marin Cilic at last month's St Petersburg Open.   

But the penalty was rescinded after a video review, ATP rules chief Gayle Bradshaw said in a statement.   

"Following an extensive review of the match in St Petersburg between Nikolay Davydenko and Marin Cilic, that included a full video analysis, it was decided that Davydenko's appeal should be upheld and the 2,000 dollar fine rescinded," Bradshaw said.   

In St Petersburg, the top seed played formidable tennis in the first set but then made numerous errors and committed 10 double faults, earning a warning from the chair umpire for not trying hard enough.   

After the match Davydenko described the warning as 'outrageous.'   

"I was simply shocked to hear him say that," he said. "How does he know what I was trying to do?"    "I was so upset with the whole thing I started crying."   

Davydenko, currently taking part in the Masters Cup here, is also the subject of an ATP probe after suspicious betting patterns relating to another match he played in Poland in August.   

The 26-year-old Russian and his wife and brother have all been questioned after huge sums were bet on Argentine journeyman Martin Vassallo Arguello, who lost the first set but won the match when Davydenko retired injured.   

Davydenko was also rebuked by the chair umpire for serving multiple double faults against Marcos Baghdatis at last week's Paris Masters. He later blamed an elbow injury.