Lee content despite Davydenko rout

NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) Lee Hyung-taik fell 6-1 6-3 6-4 to fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko in fourth round at the US Open, but the South Korean was happy with his showing at Flushing Meadows.

''Davydenko was faster than I actually thought he'd be,'' Lee told reporters through an interpreter after the two-hour, three-minute match at Louis Armstrong Stadium.

''I worked really hard, but Davydenko is a really good player. I tried my best.

''I'm really satisfied. It really gave me hope that I can do better and I can have better results.'' The Russian, a semi-finalist last year, never lost serve and faced only two break points in the match as he smacked 31 winners against just 13 for the 31-year-old Korean yesterday.

By reaching the round-of-16, Lee matched the best grand slam result of his career -- his advance to the last 16 at the 2000 US Open on his grand slam debut.

Lee said he did not foresee going to work on any particular facet of his game.

''Now that I'm married, my life is more balanced,'' said Lee, who has a 17-month-old daughter and two-week-old son. ''I'm trying to enjoy the game. I think I'm doing better because I'm more balanced in all aspects of my life.'' Lee said it can get lonely, being one of the only Asian players on the tour, but that taking on former ATP player Yoon Yong-il as his coach has helped.

''It helps a lot,'' Lee said. ''We know each other very well. We played doubles together, and won the gold medal at the Asian Games.

It helps that we know each other very well.'' REUTERS BJR KN0634