Alexandr Dolgopolov upset David Ferrer in the quarterfinals of Open de Nice Côte d’Azur
World number 7 and top seed David Ferrer of Spain crashed out of the Open de Nice Côte d’Azur as he was beaten by Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, ranked 23rd in the world, in three sets 4-6, 6-1, 5-7 in the quarterfinals
at the Nice Lawn Tennis Club in Nice on Thursday. Dolgopolov needed an hour and 52 minutes to oust the Spaniard in a tough match.
Ferrer and Dolgopolov found difficulty in holding their serve in the opening set. Five of the ten service games were broken in the first set. However, it was the Ukrainian who claimed three of the five breaks of serve, clinching
the decisive break in the ninth game and winning the set 6-4.
The right-handed hit five aces and a single double fault in the first set. Dolgopolov had a low first serve percentage as he delivered just 50 percent of the first serves, clinching 56 percent of the points on them in the opening
set. While, Ferrer failed to hit any ace and delivered 57 percent of the first serves, managing to win a meagre 41 percent of the points on them in the first set. Dolgopolov converted three of the six break points he received and saved one of the three break
points he faced in the opening set.
Ferrer fought back and crushed Dolgopolov in the second set. The Spaniard allowed his opponent to win only a single game, breaking the Ukrainian twice and winning the set 6-1.
The 29-year-old delivered a single ace and 56 percent of the first serves in the second set, grabbing 79 percent of the points on them. In comparison, Dologopolov had a much higher first serve percentage as he kept it at 73 percent
but lagged behind in the conversion rate, converting just 56 percent of the first serves into points in the second set. Ferrer capitalized on two of the four break points on his opponent’s serve and managed to save both break points he faced in the second
set.
In the final set, both players held their serve in the first ten games to equalize the score at 5-5. Dolgopolov broke the Spaniard in the 12th game, sealing the set 7-5.
The five feet and 11 inches tall was lucky to win despite having a first serve percentage of just 41 percent in the third set. The Ukrainian converted the only break point he received in the deciding set.
This is Dolgopolov’s first win over Ferrer in four meetings. Ferrer defeated the Ukrainian in three sets 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the semi-finals at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in their last meeting.
The fifth seed is drawn to face world number 69, Romanian Victor Hanescu in the semi-finals.
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