I almost felt sorry for Nikolay Davydenko this weekend. I really did. Okay, I understand that it’s hard to feel too sorry for a man who has just picked up a cheque for around a million pounds, for winning the end of season ATP Masters Series event at the O2 in London.

But after beating Juan Martin Del Potro in a one-sided final, the 28-year Russian admitted that he hadn’t been asked for a single autograph all week in London. Blimey. That is tough. Especially when you consider that over a quarter of a million people had been to watch the tennis at the old dome and not one bothered to ask our Nikolay for a trusty scrawl on their programme?

I guess we can only conclude it is something about the way Davydenko looks and conducts himself, that makes him so anonymous. Afterall he has just returned to number 6 in the world and has been an immensely talented player for many years. But on-court personality is not something we have seen in abundance. In fact shamefully, when I was at the tennis last week, I didn’t even think of including him in our list of bald-sportsmen who have been a success.

But I am clearly not alone in thinking him almost invisible. One tennis correspondent has suggested this morning that Davydenko looks like he could be employed as a provincial branch manager for the sponsors of the tennis at the O2. Ouch. That really must hurt. Sport shouldn’t ever really be about a beauty contest, but I guess it still is.

Sponsors are queuing up to sign up the likes of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray and Del Potro. Davydenko wouldn’t top any wish list in that department. And he keeps himself to himself on the tour. Unlike someone like Djokovic, who is a hugely popular figure and whose tennis impersonations are the stuff of legend.

Davydenko isn’t a must-see at Wimbledon either. In fact he could potter through the grounds of SW19 without a second glance. But fair play to him. He may not be all rippling muscle and brooding good looks, but he can play tennis. And even without the X-factor, Davydenko can return home to Russia, where he admits he isn’t as famous as he should be, and count his winnings.

His predicament has made me wrack my brains this morning for similarly anonymous superstars of the sports world, or those who are, how should I put it, a little unconventional. Eddie the Eagle springs to mind – although he couldn’t have looked less like a ski jumper and couldn’t actually do it either..... But I would welcome any top notch suggestions. Come on. It’s a miserable Monday morning. Let’s skive off work and play this game instead!

Tags: Nikolay Davydenko, Juan Martin Del Potro, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Eddie the Eagle Edwards

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