Top seed and world number four Nikolay Davydenko shook off the effect of jet lag to beat American Zack Fleishman in his opening match at the China Open in Beijing on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old Russian, who came into Beijing only on Monday night, sent the American packing in just 67 minutes with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory.

He will take on Croat Marin Cilic, who overcame a first set slump to beat German Rainer Schuettler 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3 earlier this afternoon.

The then fifth-ranked Russian only reached the quarterfinals here last year, losing to 47-ranked Thai Paradorn Srichaphan 6-2, 1-0, retiring with a questionable foot injury in the match and consequently causing an avalanche of protest from the Chinese fans. His first Chinese tour ended up with controversial sightseeing and shopping with his girlfriend.

But last year's disappointment was never getting on his nerves on Tuesday as the workaholic, who is playing his 26th tournament this season,

The bald Russian number one has also been involved in a betting scandal stretching to last month when he retired from a match against nobody Argentine Martin Vassalo Arguello in the Poland Open, which triggered an ATP investigation towards him.

(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2007)