Non-stop Davydenko reporting for duty in Beijing

　　BEIJING (AFP) - Tennis marathon man Nikolay Davydenko will face a stern test as he goes back into action at the China Open late Tuesday little more that two days after losing to Roger Federer in New York.

　　The Russian number four plays as top seed in Beijing with less than a year to go until the 2008 Olympics as he opens against American journeyman Zack Fleishman.

　　But the number 137 challenger will have the time zones shift in his favour following an early arrival while last-minute Davydenko will surely be adjusting to his cross-Pacific hop in time to make his starting time in China.

　　The Russian, who played a match in July now being investigated by the ATP and Scotland Yard specialists due to irregular betting patterns on the Internet, prides himself on playing almost year-round.

　　Davydenko is trying not to let suspicions about his match loss last summer in Sopot, Poland, colour his current performance with a Davis Cup semi-final with Germany looming.

　　"I just concentrate on my game," he said in New York after going down in the semi-finals for a tenth straight loss to Federer.

　　"I want to earn some points for Shanghai (November) season-ending Masters Cup). I want to stay in the top five this year and maybe go better.

　　"But to do that, I need good results. I don't care what's happening out there, for me it's more important what I do right here and now."

　　Fifth-seeded holder Marcos Baghdatis will proceed Davydenko on court at the Beijing tennis centre, hoping to put a US Open first-round defeat behind him.

　　Fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic is in the same position as Baghdatis as he tries to resurrect a modest season after going 3-4 on summer hardcourt.

　　Chile's second seed Fernando Gonzalez was looking ahead to a brighter future on court after finally winning a match after four consecutive first-round defeats dating to Wimbledon.

　　"In tennis there is another chance, it feels great to win again," said the South American after beating Austrian Alexander Peya in three sets.