Tomic beats Dolgopolov in five gruelling sets

By James Maasdorp

Updated January 21, 2012 12:04:43

Australia's young tennis star Bernard Tomic has set up a round-four Australian Open date with world number three Roger Federer after beating Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in a tense five-set encounter.

Tomic showed once more he has the appetite for physically demanding exchanges in his 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-3 win, as well as the mental wherewithal to outlast an opponent who looked to be in superior form on the night.

Tomic credited the backing he received from the partisan Rod Laver Arena crowd, saying it helped him see out a tense match.

"I think the crowd made me win," he said after the five-setter.

"[Dolgopolov is] one of the most unusual guys to play. For me to play him in this round and win is fantastic for me."

Tomic says he is a better player than when he took a set off Federer in a match last year.

"I think I have improved a lot and I keep improving, and we'll see how I go on Sunday," he said.

Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt, who plays his third round clash on Saturday against Canada's rising star Milos Raonic, are the only Australians left in the singles tournaments.

Dolgopolov looked to have the edge over the younger Tomic in the early exchanges, breaking Tomic twice to claim the first set.

But Tomic clawed his way back into the match to force the tie-break in the second set, cantering to a 7-0 lead which belied the close nature of the contest.

Tomic required another tie-break to claim the third in a match where the Ukrainian 13th-seed still looked to have the edge, but the local favourite produced some clutch shots to clinch the set 7-6 (8-6).

Dolgopolov made light work of the fourth set as Tomic wavered, but the boot was on the other foot in the deciding set as the Ukrainian lost his cool after a questionable umpiring decision.

Tomic appealed a shot mid-rally but returned to keep the exchange of shots going, only for Dolgopolov to hit the following shot long.

The Ukrainian was furious, arguing the appeal should have been reviewed on hawk-eye.

The decision to award the point to Tomic stood, and the boy from the Gold Coast powered on to emphatically serve out the final set 6-3.

Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 20, 2012 23:00:16

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Dolgopolov through to Brisbane final

Updated January 07, 2012 19:03:46

Ukrainian world number 15 Alexandr Dolgopolov battled injury to book a place in the Brisbane International final after overcoming second seed Gilles Simon.

Dolgopolov received treatment for a groin niggle in the second set of the semi-final but still managed to play through the problem to triumph 6-3, 6-4 in 81 minutes on Pat Rafter Arena.

The 23-year-old will now play either world number four Andy Murray in Sunday's final.

With his upper right leg heavily strapped, the big-hitting third seed struggled for two games midway through the set before steadying the ship.

A quarter-finalist at last year's Australian Open, Dolgopolov's forehand was a weapon throughout and he set up two match points on the Frenchman's serve in the 10th game with a blistering shot down the line.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000

First posted January 07, 2012 17:01:45

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Tomic knocked out by Dolgopolov

Updated October 25, 2011 13:07:21

Australia's Bernard Tomic has been eliminated from the Shanghai Masters by 12th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov, while defending champion Andy Murray progressed.

Ukraine's Dolgopolov advanced to the quarter-finals with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Tomic.

The win continues Dolgopolov's unbeaten record against Tomic, who he has defeated in all three of their previous encounters.

Murray survived a testing encounter with Stanislas Wawrinka to reach the quarter-finals as David Ferrer saved three match points to progress.

Second seed Murray, on a red-hot run of form of 21 wins from 22 matches coming into the clash against the Swiss 13th seed, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 under the roof at the Qi Zhong stadium.

The British player looked set for a straightforward victory after taking the first set but cut a frustrated figure as he conceded a break of serve in the second set as Wawrinka levelled the match with an ace.

Murray raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider as Wawrinka was warned by the umpire after smashing his racket but despite a late wobble, he closed out the match and remains on course for a final clash against top seed Rafael Nadal.

Earlier, Spain's Ferrer edged into the last eight when he beat injured Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Third seed Ferrer won the all-Spanish tie 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 after a major fright in the 10th game of the second set, when he was forced to dig deep to hold serve and prevent Ferrero from sealing the win.

The win for Ferrer means he becomes the fifth player to qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals, featuring the world's top eight singles players over the year.

Injury-cursed Ferrero had strapping applied to his right ankle midway through the second set after a nasty tumble and although he recovered to force the match points, his challenge faded in the third set.

American 10th seed Andy Roddick reached the last eight after an impressive 6-3, 6-4 win over Nicolas Almagro, seeded seven, of Spain.

Roddick secured a single break in each set, wrapping up victory with his 11th ace in a controlled display that saw him make just 14 unforced errors.

Japan's Kei Nishikori triumphed over Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 6-3.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, australia, china

First posted October 13, 2011 20:10:52

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