Alexandr Dolgopolov edges past Steve Darcis into the round of 32 – BNP Paribas Open 2012
21st seed, Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, survived a scare in the first set to overcome world number 71 Steve Darcis 6-7(13), 6-3, 7-5 in the second round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, USA on Sunday.
It needed the Ukrainian two hour and 45 minutes to oust Darcis in a marathon contest.
Dolgopolov made a fine start, breaking the Belgian in the third game and consolidating on it to go up 3-1. However, Darcis hit back in the eighth and levelled the score at 4-4. Both players won their serves in the next four games
to force a tie-breaker. It was a fierce competition, as Dolgopolov and Darcis went to neck-to-neck until 13-13. The Ukrainian then claimed two points in a row to seal it 7-6(13).
After losing the opener, Dolgopolov did not make the same mistake in the second set. The right-hander made an early breakthrough to attain a 4-1 lead and this time he did allow Darcis to bounce back, serving out the set at 5-3.
Dolgopolov and Darcis saved a number of break threats in the first seven games of the decider, taking the score to 4-3 in favour of the latter. The Belgian got himself in a winning position, as he struck in the eighth game to claim
a 5-3 lead. However, Darcis failed to serve out the set and dropped four in a row to lose the final set 3-6.
The Ukrainian did not play to his standard throughout the match. He hit eight aces but committed six awful double faults to fritter away the advantage. The 23-year-old was also unimpressive on his returns, grabbing 27 of the 69
first and 22 of the 55 second ones. The Kiev, Ukraine, resident capitalised on four of the seven break chances but failed to save two of the three he came across.
Ranked 21st in the world, Dolgopolov is going through a rusty match. Before this tournament, the Ukrainian lost three of the previous four matches he had played.
He is pitted against Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the third round. The Cypriot prevailed over 15th seed Feliciano Lopez in the last match.
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