Davydenko overcomes injury to advance in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Apr 25 (Reuters) Second seed Nikolay Davydenko overcame a troublesome right shoulder and a difficult opponent in fellow Russian Yuri Schukin to reach the third round of the Barcelona Open today.

Davydenko, beaten in his first match in Monte Carlo last week, struggled for form again before scrambling his way to a 6-4 3-6 6-2 victory.

The world number four looked on course for an easy win when he led by a set and 2-0, but world number 218 Schukin, who was appearing in his first ATP Tour event of the year, hit back to level.

Davydenko was then broken in the first game of the final set, but after having treatment at 1-2, reeled off the next five games to set up a clash with either Spanish 14th seed Nicolas Almagro or Italian Filippo Volandri.

Eighth seed Juan Ignacio Chela also advanced with a 6-3 6-3 victory over American Vince Spadea 6-3 6-3.

He will play the winner of the all-Italian battle between Potito Starace and Simone Bolelli, who upset Marat Safin in the first round.

Later today, top seed Rafael Nadal begins the defence of his title with a second-round encounter against Belgian Kristof Vliegen.

Nadal is bidding to become only the second man, after Swede Mats Wilander, to win the Barcelona Open in three successive years.

REUTERS BJR RK1610