Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of Rafael Nadal versus Nikolay Davydenko in the last four of the Qatar Open. Davydenko won the toss and will serve.

GAME, SET AND MATCH DAVYDENKO! Davydenko looking decidely uneasy as Nadal brings up three break points. He saves one with a forehand winner across court before a fifth ace of the match saves a second one. Another big first serve is good enough to force Nadal to knock the return long, but Nadal slams a forehand winner across court to earn a fourth break point. Davydenko resists the charge with a decent first serve before finishing it off with an excellent second serve.

Nadal saves two match points before going on to pocket the game. Brilliant stuff from Nadal, really impressive. Not lacking heart and he remains alive. He is sweating profusely. Obviously not well. Davydenko will serve for a second time for the match leading 5-2.

Brave stuff from Nadal as he somehow drags up the energy to win the game and break back. Davydenko not exactly finishing off this match in style. Dropped in a few silly errors, but still unlikely that he is not going to reach the final against Roger Federer. Nadal serves at 1-5.

A THIRD BREAK TO DAVYDENKO! Davydenko forcing Nadal to move from side to side before swatting a big forehand down the line to level at deuce. Chance for a third break, but Nadal produces his own response by clipping away a forehand across court. A Davydenko winner and a Nadal error gives a break point to Davydenko. Nadal knocks the ball wide of the line and it is 5-0 in favour of the Russian. At least Nadal is going to see it through, which says a lot about him.

This is turning into a procession with Nadal clearly wilting both mentally and physically. The world number one is obviously not fully fit. Davydenko pushes a forehand wide from deep, but he continues to hold a 30-15 lead. The Russian whacks a forehand winner across court to move 40-15 ahead. Davydenko eases 4-0 clear and is now two games away from the final.

A SECOND BREAK TO DAVYDENKO! The quality of Davydenko's play is not going to lift Nadal's mood in this match. The world number one whacks a backhand wide down the line, and Davydenko has a point for another break here. Nadal slices the ball wide, and the Russian has two breaks in this set.

Davydenko has won seven of the last eight games from 2-1 down. Nadal is clearly struggling out there. He has flu and he has asked for the trainers. This is not looking good. Nadal says he has been feeling terrible since the opening three games, but he is going to play on.

BREAK TO DAVYDENKO! Davydenko really punishing a Nadal serve that is clearly misfiring. He swats another winner down the line to move 30-0 ahead on the Spaniard's serve. The Russian then drills away a cracking forehand to bring up two break points and the chance to break for a third time. A first ace for Nadal saves one break points, but a weak backhand hits the net and the Russian is well in control.

Davydenko serves for the first set and races into a 30-0 lead to continue his dominant form. After a 154 km/h winner, Nadal falls further behind at 40-15 and an all-too-easy Ace seals a flat-footed Nadal's fate. Pretty one-sided in the end.

Nadal is struggling with his serve and it's showing. Davydenko overhits his return from the opening serve but it's 15-15 when Nadal is wayward down the line. A double fault illustrates the Spaniard's frustration. Davydenko is also unhappy as the game goes to 30-30 but the Russian nudges in front with a slight mis-hit. Nadal wastes a challenge on the shot but it's deuce when Davydenko can only find the net. At the third time of asking, it's a break.

Davydenko volleys impressively to go in front and quickly stamps his authority on the service game. Nadal returns wildly to slip further behind and an Ace brings about a love game for the Russian.

Nadal is back on serve and squares things up. The Spaniard wins the first point comfortably but overhits a return to make it 15-15. Davydenko can only find the net after a compelling rally following a powerful backhand by Nadal and it proves a key moment in the game. Nadal closes things out to level matters.

A much more solid game from Davydenko on serve. He wraps it up with the first ace of the match and the Russian leads by the odd game in five. This is already developing into a fascinating contest. Remember Davydenko ousted Federer in the semis a year ago in this tournament. He is not overawed out there.

BREAK BACK TO DAVYDENKO! Davydenko trying his best to stay alive in the rallies long enough to apply some pressure to the Nadal game. That is easier said than done. Davydenko does wonderfully well to return a Nadal drop shot, but the Spaniard wins the point to level at 30-30. Nadal then whips a forehand wide to hand the Russian a break point before he knocks another shot long to hand the break back to his opponent. Back on serve.

BREAK TO NADAL! Another quite stunning forehand from Nadal down the line sees him move to 30-0 ahead. Quite ferocious hitting and another backhand gives the Spaniard a 40-0 lead as his opponent can only find the net. Some more big hitting enables Nadal to break to love. An aggressive start from the world number one.

Nadal making an eager start as he wins the first three points, but Davydenko comes roaring back with a couple of his own. The Russian reaching balls that lesser players can't, but Nadal whacks a stunning forehand down the line that is enough to hand him his first service game. Both men hitting the ball with some power.

Davydenko sporting a brand spanking new pair of black trainers. He looks to be moving well enough in them. The opening service game goes to 30-30, but the Russian wins the next two points to hold serve. Both men easing themselves into their surroundings. Let us see how Nadal is feeling after his battle with a touch of the flu this week. The Spaniard serves.

Davydenko to serve in the opening game of the match.