Russia's Nikolay Davydenko cut Juan Martin del Potro down to size on Sunday with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over the towering Argentine to claim the ATP World Tour Finals title. The final was not the blockbuster tournament organisers would have wished to conclude a dazzling debut for London’s first hosting of the season-ending showpiece.

But few of the 17,500 fans inside the O2 Arena would question Davydenko’s right to walk off with a $1.5 million cheque in his pocket and the biggest title of his career.

From the moment the jet-heeled baseliner broke del Potro’s serve in the fourth game of the match he looked in complete control, neutralising the greater power of his opponent with a superb display of precision and consistency. Del Potro’s mighty forehand, the weapon that clubbed Roger Federer to defeat in the final of the US Open final in September, was rarely in evidence as he slipped to defeat in one hour 23 minutes.

‘I was positive’

“For me it was amazing to come here ranked at seven in the world and to win the tournament, I surprised myself,” Davydenko, said after winning his fifth title of the year and the 19th of his career. “From the first game I was positive, everything was feeling good. I know the history of this tournament, like Federer, Djokovic, Sampras. Now my name is on the trophy. Maybe now, I’ll be a little bit more famous in London.

Del Potro, who would have moved to a career high four in the ATP rankings had he won the title, looked jaded from the exertions of his four previous matches, all of which went to three sets including his semi-final against Swede Robin Soderling which finished late on Saturday.

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