Alexandr Dolgopolov toppled world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) Monday in the third round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters. Ukraine's Dolgopolov, ranked 31st in the world and seeded 28th in the first Masters tournament of the year, notched his first victory over the Spanish superstar after five prior defeats.
The most recent of those was in the claycourt final at Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago. Nadal had reached the semifinals at Indian Wells every year since 2006, winning the title in 2007, 2009 and last year. Down a break at 5-3 in the third, Nadal broke Dolgopolov to get the set back on serve and from there they went to the tiebreaker.
Paes-Stepanek in Quarterfinals
Meanwhile, India’s Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek marched into the quarterfinals with a straight-set win over Jonathan Erlich from Israel and Richard Gasquet from France. The Indo-Czech pair, seeded fourth, beat the wildcard entrants 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 16 minutes. The duo converted five of eight break points and in return gave little away on their own serves, broken just twice in the entire match.
In contrast, the wildcard pair recorded six double faults and managed to win just 45 per cent points on their second serve.
The most recent of those was in the claycourt final at Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago. Nadal had reached the semifinals at Indian Wells every year since 2006, winning the title in 2007, 2009 and last year. Down a break at 5-3 in the third, Nadal broke Dolgopolov to get the set back on serve and from there they went to the tiebreaker.
Paes-Stepanek in Quarterfinals
Meanwhile, India’s Leander Paes and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek marched into the quarterfinals with a straight-set win over Jonathan Erlich from Israel and Richard Gasquet from France. The Indo-Czech pair, seeded fourth, beat the wildcard entrants 6-3, 7-5 in an hour and 16 minutes. The duo converted five of eight break points and in return gave little away on their own serves, broken just twice in the entire match.
In contrast, the wildcard pair recorded six double faults and managed to win just 45 per cent points on their second serve.