My aim is to keep winning and boost ranking:Youzhny

Chennai, Dec 29 (UNI) Mikhail Youzhny, the number 2 Russian, who is kicking off the new season in the quest of putting back his much acclaimed game back on the tracks at the Chennai Open 2006 here, today said his Davis Cup colleague Davydenko was above the charges of match fixing.

Talking to the media here after another hard round of practise on the centre court at the SDATN tennis stadium, the venue of the Chennai Open for the only ATP tour event in South Asia, said Davidenko was a good friend of his.

''I do not believe that he is involved in match fixing'', he added.

Asked about the ban on two Italian players including that country's no 1 player, Youzhny, who was world number 2 before being sidelined by injury, said, however, he could not comment more on the issue.

Asked about his target for the new year he said ''I have no specific targets and added he would play to win every match so that he could boost his ranking and be back at the top.

''If I win, I will be able to improve my ranking'', he said.

Youzhny said although Spaniard Rafael Nadal appears to be the favourite, the field in Chennai Open this year ''is tough''.

''My aim is to just get back on the courts and win match after match'', Youzhny, who has finished in the top 20 for the first time in three years and won a career-high 50 matches, said.

He broke into the top 10 on August 13 and remained there for three weeks last year. His crowning achievement in 2007 was winning the Davis Cup for Russia against United States in the final.

Youzhny began playing tennis at the age of six.

UNI