David Ferrer outlasts Alexandr Dolgopolov; Del Potro cruises – Wimbledon Championships 2013
Spanish number one, David Ferrer, rallied past the 26th seed, Alexandr Dolgopolov, in a five-set nail-biter at the Wimbledon Championships 2013 on Saturday. The 2009 US Open titlist, Juan Martin Del Potro, also stayed
on track at this third of the four Grand Slam events held in London, United Kingdom.
Seeded fourth in this event, Ferrer stayed focused at this prestigious grass court event. He lost the opening set in the tie-breaker and needed three hours and 13 minutes to advance into the fourth round at the All England Lawn
Tennis Club.
Both players had a cautious start in the opening set of the match. Dolgopolov drew the first blood but lost his edge immediately. However, he dominated in the tie-breaker to grab the opener with a 7-6(6) win.
Ferrer re-structured his game plan in the following set. After exchanging two breaks, he not only took the set to a tie-breaker but prevailed in it to click the second set with a 7-6(2) success.
The Spaniard lost his track again but stayed calm, eventually notching up a 6-7(6), 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 score line.
Up next for Ferrer is the Croatian veteran, Ivan Dodig, who recorded a 6-0, 6-1, 1-0 retirement victory against Netherlands’ Igor Sijsling. The Dutchman was forced to pull out from the match after just 46 minutes due to illness.
The top ranked Argentine showed exceptional skills to overpower the Slovenian star, Grega Zemlja, in straight sets. As a result, he reached the second week of Wimbledon Championships for third successive years.
Del Potro stated in a post match press conference, "I think he served really well in the second set. He made like 20 first serves in a row, and I only won a point during the tie-break."
The Argentine twisted his ankle in the third set against Zemlja. He reflected, "I will see the doctor, because I was going for the drop shot and I twisted my ankle. I hyper-extended my knee. It was really painful. I was a little
scared at that moment."
The 12th seed, Kei Nishikori, became casualty of the day. He suffered a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 1-6, 4-6 loss at the hands of the Italian star, Andreas Seppi.
”It was a really close match,” said the Asian number one, who underwent treatment for a back injury on two occasions. “He raised his level in the fourth and fifth sets. He didn't give me many unforced errors [and he] served well,
so I didn't have much chance to break him.”
The Japanese number one will next play at the Citi Open in Washington. Seppi on the other hand will take on Del Potro in the fourth round.
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