Juan Martin del Potro and Nikolay Davydenko are the unlikely survivors at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London
Davydenko, fresh from his first ever win over Roger Federer in the semi-finals, makes the best start and breaks for 3-1 after Del Potro appears to be rattled by a foot-fault call
The 21-year-old Argentine, the US Open champion, continues to grumble about the judge's call and surrenders the first set 6-3 in 38 minutes
Davydenko, who also beat Soderling and Rafael Nadal on his way to the final, shows no sign of letting up at the start of the second set
But Del Potro finally starts to hit the target with his feared forehand, and earns break points at 3-2
But the 28-year-old Davydenko is not to be denied, the Russian holding off Del Potro and then breaking at 4-4 before coolly serving out
Del Potro would have replaced Andy Murray as world number four with victory, but can still reflect on a breakthrough year in which he won a maiden Grand Slam title
As well as the biggest title of his career, Davydenko picks up a winners' cheque for more than £900,000 and moves up to sixth in the world rankings
Earlier in the day, Bob and Mike Bryan defeat Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to claim the doubles title, celebrating with a trademark chest bump
The victory also means the American twins secure the year-end world number one ranking, overtaking Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic
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