Viktor Troicki rallies past Alexandr Dolgopolov into the third round – French Open 2011
Serbian number 2 Viktor Troicki, ranked 15th in the world, reached his first grand slam fourth round as he defeated world number 22 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine in four sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the third round of
French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Saturday. Troicki took two hours and 46 minutes to beat his Ukrainian opponent in a tough contest.
The Serbian drew the first blood as he broke Dolgopolov in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. The Ukrainian was quick to respond as he broke back in the very next game, equalising the score at 3-3. Troicki broke again in the ninth
game and this time he did not allow his opponent to break back, serving out the set in the next game and winning it 6-4.
The Serbian hit a couple of aces and 67 percent of the first deliveries in the first set, claiming 69 percent of the points on them. While, Dolgopolov had a low first serve percentage as he hit just 48 percent of the first serves
and converted 69 percent of them into points in the opening set.
After losing the first set, Dolgopolov came back roaring, breaking Troicki in the second game and consolidating on it to race to a 3-0 lead. However, the Serbian fought back and broke the Ukrainian in the fifth game, holding his
next service game to level the score at 3-3. After that, it was all Dolgopolov show as he clinched three straight games, breaking Troicki in the eighth game and winning the set 6-3.
The 22-year-old fired three aces and 55 percent of the first serves, sealing 72 percent of the points on them in the first set. The Ukrainian played aggressively, hitting fourteen winners and ten unforced errors in the second set.
Troicki broke Dolgopolov in the fourth game of the third set and consolidated on it in the next game, blazing forward to a 4-1 lead. The Serbian served out the set at 5-3.
The six feet and four inches tall kept his first serve percentage at 62 percent and captured 83 percent of the points on the first serve in the third set. Troicki converted one of the two break points he received on his opponent’s
serve in the third set.
The fourth set went with serve in the first eight games, squaring off the score at 4-4. The Serbian finally broke the ice in the ninth game, breaking Dolgopolov for a 5-4 lead. The right-handed held his serve in the tenth game,
winning the fourth set 6-4. The Belgrade resident grabbed 43 percent of the receiving points in the third set.
Troicki is slated to meet world number 4 Andy Murray of Great Britain in the fourth round.
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