Alexandr Dolgopolov bounces back to outshine Jesse Levine in round one – US Open 2012
Ukrainian number one, Alexandr Dolgopolov, made an epic comeback from a set down to triumph over the local challenger, Jesse Levine, in a five-set mouth-watering marathon at the US Open 2012 on Tuesday. He summed up a 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory against the left-handed American to labour into the second round at this last of the four Grand Slam events held in New York City, United States.
Seeded 14th in this event, Dolgopolov remained focused throughout the battle to overpower the American at this major hard court event. The contestants last fought each other at juniors event of the Wimbledon Championships and after earning this success, the Ukrainian not only avenged his loss but advanced comfortably into the round of 64.
The world number 76 entered the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. He smoothly held his entire serves without facing any hindrance and capitalised on one out of four break chances to pull out the opener with a 6-3 score line.
Levine showed brilliant defensive skills in the follow-up set. He warded off all four breakpoints he came across to keep his entire serves. The American required a single break of serve after cashing in one out of three break opportunities and sealed the set by winning six games to four.
The 23-year-old on the other side of net rebounded in the third set. Regardless of losing his serve twice, Dolgopolov stayed calm and levelled the scores at 4-4. He broke the American’s serve once again in the last game and eventually clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
Ranked 15th in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Rankings, Dolgopolov carried his rhythm in the proceeding set. After Levine held his serve in the second game, the Ukrainian unleashed flurry of groundstrokes and clicked the equaliser with a breadstick.
Dolgopolov’s skills were fully polished in the final set which counted the most. After Levine levelled the scores at 1-1, the Ukrainian reeled off five games in a row and went 5-1 up. He swiped his serve once again and bagged the set with a 6-2 win.
The seed will face off the Cypriot number one, Marcos Baghdatis, who also required five sets to stomp over his opponent, Matthias Bachinger, to reach this spot. Baghdatis overpowered the German qualifier with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(5) score line. He lost his serve three times but converted five out of 17 break opportunities to earn the fame.
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