Alexandr Dolgopolov prevails over James Blake in the quarter-finals – Citi Open 2012
Seeded second in the draw, Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov defeated one of the home favourites, James Blake, in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals of the Citi Open in Washington, USA on Friday.
Dolgopolov needed an hour and 22 minutes to down his American opponent in an evenly contested match.
Blake came roaring in the match, as he grabbed opening three games to race to a 3-0 lead. Though, Dolgopolov hit back in the seventh and held his subsequent serve to even out the score at 4-4. The Ukrainian struck again in the
11th to move ahead 6-5 but he could not serve out the set at that moment, dropping his serve to level the proceedings at 6-6 and taking it to a tie-breaker. Dolgopolov claimed an early lead and kept it till the end, sealing it 7-6(3).
The Ukrainian contestant pounded four aces and 70 percent of the first serves, pocketing 19 of the 26 points on them. The 5ft 11in tall made a number of errors on his second deliveries, losing seven of the 11 points on them and
making three double faults. The 23-year-old put away three of the five break threats he came across and utilised both of the opportunities he created in the opener.
Dolgopolov and Blake made a steadier start in the second set, winning their serve in the first five games to take the score to 3-2 in favour of the Ukrainian. Dolgopolov clinched breakthrough in the sixth one and consolidated on
it to build a 5-2 advantage. Serving to win the match at 5-3, the Ukrainian could not hold his nerves and lost the game to take the score to 5-4. Dolgopolov made amendments by striking in the following one to seal it 6-4.
The Kiev, Ukraine resident banged in three aces and did not make any double fault in the second set. The right-hander bagged most of the points on his first serves and returns, securing 12 of the 15 and 12 of the 20 on them respectively.
Dolgopolov will face the world number 38, Sam Querrey of USA, in the semi-finals.
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