Tennis Panorama Archives

Archives of TennisPanorama.com 2008-2013

TennisPanorama.com 2008-2013
  • Home
  • Tennis Panorama
You are here: Home / Features / Rafael Nadal Upset by Alexandr Dolgopolov in Third Round of BNP Paribas Open

Rafael Nadal Upset by Alexandr Dolgopolov in Third Round of BNP Paribas Open

March 11, 2014 By Tennis Panorama News

Alexandr Dolgopolov

Alexandr Dolgopolov


(March 10, 2014) INDIAN WELLS – Defending champion Rafael Nadal fell to Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday.  It proved to be a bad day for defending champions as Maria Sharapova was upset on Stadium 1 in the match before Nadal.
It was just last month in Rio that the Spaniard beat the 27th seed for the title in straight sets. Coming into Monday’s match, Dolgopolov had never even taken a set off of the world No. 1.
“I feel great, I mean, as after every win, of course,” said the winner.  “This one was bigger and I beat the defending champion, No. 1 in the world.
“I guess I just need to enjoy this evening and forget about it tomorrow and try to compete the rest of the tournament.  I’m still in.  That’s great, and I’m really happy I could manage to win today.
After splitting the first two sets, Dolgopolov took a 5-2 lead in the third.
Nadal rallied, taking the next three games. Both men held to take the match to a tiebreak.
Nadal grabbed a 4-2 lead in the tiebreak, Dolgopolov won the next three points for a 5-4 lead. Nadal evened it at 5-5, but then hit a ball long to give Dolgopolov the only match point he would need.
“I knew I’m playing well enough to win,” said the Ukrainian.  “The point was just not to get too nervous.  I knew he’s going to make me play that game and not miss much, and I just gave it away.  That was all on me.  I didn’t serve, didn’t play well, and I just tried to forget about that and come back.
“I think I did quite well service game at 5‑All, and the tiebreak was really good at the end for me.”
Nadal
“I played bad,” Nadal said.  “That’s all.  Disappointed with the way I played.  But that happens sometimes.  Can happen, and it happens.
“I did all what I had to do to be in good shape.  I worked very hard for the last week, week and week and a half.  After Rio I had a few days off, three days off, to recover the back.  Then I think I worked great.  I think worked great and with good feeling.
“But since I started the competition here I didn’t find the right feelings.  It’s true that I played against two opponents that probably didn’t help me to get the rhythm in the tournament.  But that’s it.  I was there.  I saved tough situation the first day.  Today I was close to save another one.
“But at the end, when you are on the limit, this thing happen.  You can lose.  I lost today.  Congratulate him.  He played I think better than me.  That’s it.  Life continues.
“Gonna keep working hard to try to be ready for Miami.”
“When I have two breaks in one set, normally I don’t lose the set,” Nadal explained.  “He played great.  He’s playing well, much better today.  Had good tournaments in Rio, in Acapulco, so great what the things that he is doing.
“But today.  At the end I have to analyze my part and opponent.  I cannot talk about the opponent because what the opponent does is not in my hands.  I can talk about what is in my hands, and what is in my hands I didn’t play enough solid today.
“I had enough breaks to win the match, but I didn’t play enough well from the baseline then to be solid with my serve.  Is not a problem with my serve.  Was more problem with my baseline shots.  I didn’t go for the points.  I played with too many mistakes.
“It’s a moment for the people to be proud a little bit for someone from their country,” Dolgopolov said, in reference to the political unrest going on between Ukraine and Russia.
“That’s good.  As I said a lot of times, it’s good to make some results and make the people forget a little bit and have some happy moments in the news except the politics and all the bad stuff happening.”
“It’s good to make some results and make the people forget a little bit and have some happy moments in the news.”
Despite losing the match, Nadal let in total points – 95 to 88 and Dolgopolov had more errors 49 to 36.
The Ukrainian will play Fabio Fognini for a place in the quarterfinals.

Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, News Ticker, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: Alexandr Dolgopolov, ATP, BNP Paribas Open, Karen Pestaina, Rafarl Nadal, tennis, tennis tournaments

Archives

  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • March 2009
  • December 2008

Copyright © 2023 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in