The Spaniard then made the first of his two recoveries, amazingly winning the next four games to take the set, which he closed out with his fourth ace.
There was just one break in the second set, when Lopez netted a forehand on break point at 5-4, allow Davydenko to go on and level the match at one set all, before also gaining the upper hand in the third set.
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"I made it, but I think I was a little bit lucky."
Feliciano Lopez |
With Lopez struggling to find consistency, Davydenko broke to lead 3-1 and at 5-2 in the deciding set appeared to be ready to contest his first final since he won in Moscow last October.
However Lopez raised his game, using the aggression that he had produced only in patches throughout the match, and swept the final five games to take a memorable victory.
"I think I was lucky," said 41st-ranked Lopez, who earned his third victory over a top 10 opponent this week.
"I was down 5-3 and he made a few mistakes in that game when I broke him. I took my chances and won this match."
Crucial errors
"It was really good for me, because to win a match from 5-2 in the third is tough. I made it, but I think I was a little bit lucky," Lopez added.
Davydenko admitted he had made some crucial errors at the wrong time.
"At 5-3 I think I win the match," Davydenko told reporters.
"It was bad luck. A few points on my serve I did a mistake and he played pretty well, tried to make no mistakes and pushed the ball back.
"It should be my match, but he won."
Lopez, who lost the 2004 Dubai final to Roger Federer, will next face third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia or sixth-seeded American Andy Roddick, who play later on Friday.