World no. 65 Alexandr Dolgopolov’s second round 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-5 defeat of 16th seed Tommy Robredo at the Miami Open earns him the the title of Player of the day.
A year ago, the Ukrainian was ranked 23 coming into the Miami Open, and entered the event on the back of a run to the last four of Indian Wells where he knocked out then world no. 1 Rafael Nadal and Milos Raonic.
Dolgopolov broke into the top 20 in June and then peaked at 17 after Hamburg in mid-July. But an injury interrupted his rise up the rankings and he was out of the game until Tokyo in late September.
The Ukrainian would score only one win the rest of the season (a straight sets defeat of Gilles Simon in Valencia).
In 2015, Dolgopolov, one of tennis’ best shot-makers, has been getting his form back. He has now, including his Miami wins, won back to back matches in his last four events (Indian Wells, Acapulco and Delray Beach).
Robredo, ranked 18, is the first top 20 player Dolgopolov has beaten since Simon in Valencia. The Spaniard has no problems dealing with the game’s big shot-makers on slow courts- he beat Dimitrov at Indian Wells last week, and is one of the tour’s steadiest and smartest players, and was a difficult draw for Dolgopolov.
Robredo took a tight first set on a tiebreaker, running away with the breaker 7-1. The Ukrainian then took the second set 6-3.
In the final set, Robredo broke for a 2-0 lead and held for 2-1. The Ukrainian fought back to earn two break points and took the first when, on the run, he hit one of his greatest weapons, a sliced backhand, cross-court, that skimmed the line and forced a Robredo error.
Returning at 5-6, Dolgopolov was two game points down. A cross-court forehand on the run that passed Robredo and cleaned the line kept him in the game. On the next point, Dolgopolov’s reactions and talented hands were showcased as he returned a serve right into his backhand, getting his racket on the ball with lightning reactions and sending it cross-court, right at Robredo’s feet, forcing him into a forehand error and leveling the game at deuce.
Dolgopolov earned his third match point with a forehand cross-court taken on the rise followed by a forehand volley winner.
On match point, Dolgopolov got a look on the second serve. He rallied with Robredo for the first couple of shots before Robredo took charge, changing the direction of the ball and hitting a penetrating forehand down the line that pushed Dolgopolov behind the baseline.
The Ukrainian’s movement and footwork kept him in the point, and he hit a sliced backhand that drew Robredo in. With a sitting target at the net, Dolgopolov unleashed some pace as he struck a forehand passing shot at Robredo that forced the Spaniard to error on the volley and earned Dolgopolov a place in the last sixteen.
Shot-making, variety, touch, great hands, imagination footwork, technical skills- Dolgopolov has it all, and he was so close to putting it altogether as he rose up the rankings before injury last season. This win over Robredo might be a step back in that direction, a direction worth following for tennis fans.
Watch highlights of Dolgopolov’s win over Robredo below.
Commentary by Christian Deverille.
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