Alexandr Dolgopolov facts for kids
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Dolgopolov at the 2015 Aegon Championships
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| Native name | Олександр Долгополов |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  Ukraine |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Born | 7 November 1988 Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Turned pro | 2006 |
| Retired | 2021 (last match 2018) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Oleksandr Dolgopolov Sr. (1988–2009) Jack Reader (2009–2012) Oleksandr Dolgopolov Sr. (2013–2021) Félix Mantilla (2015–2016) Stas Khmarskiy (2017–2021) |
| Prize money | US$ 7,125,771 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 221–201 (52.37% in Grand Slam and ATP World Tour main draw matches, and in Davis Cup) |
| Career titles | 3 |
| Highest ranking | No. 13 (16 January 2012) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2011) |
| French Open | 3R (2010, 2011) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2013, 2014) |
| US Open | 4R (2011, 2017) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 27–57 (32.14%) |
| Career titles | 1 |
| Highest ranking | No. 42 (9 January 2012) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 2R (2011, 2014) |
| French Open | 2R (2010, 2011, 2012) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2010, 2016) |
| US Open | 1R (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | 5–5 |
| Hopman Cup | F (2016) |
Alexandr Dolgopolov is a retired professional tennis player from Ukraine. He was born on November 7, 1988. He was once known as Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. He changed his name to Alexandr in May 2010. Dolgopolov reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 Australian Open. He also achieved his highest singles ranking of World No. 13 in January 2012.
Contents
Early Life and Tennis Beginnings
Alexandr's father, Oleksandr Sr., was a professional tennis player for the Soviet team. His mother was a gymnast. Alexandr started playing tennis when he was just three years old. His father was his first coach. His father also coached Andrei Medvedev, who is Ukraine's most successful tennis player. When Alexandr was young, he traveled a lot with his parents. He even got to hit balls with famous players like Andre Agassi and Boris Becker.
Junior Tennis Career
As a junior player, Dolgopolov was ranked as high as No. 21 in the world in January 2005. His best result in a junior Grand Slam was reaching the quarterfinals at the 2005 French Open Boys' Singles.
Professional Tennis Journey
Starting Out: 2006–2009
Dolgopolov played his first professional ATP Tour match in September 2006. He played in the BCR Open Romania. He also joined the Ukrainian Davis Cup team. In 2009, when he was 20, he decided to train without his father. He started working with Australian coach Jack Reader. He also changed his name from Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. to Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Breaking Through: 2010 Highlights
In 2010, Dolgopolov started strong at the 2010 Brisbane International. He beat Bernard Tomic there. He also qualified for big tournaments like the 2010 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and the 2010 Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open. At the Madrid Open, he even played against the famous Rafael Nadal.
His best result that year was at the 2010 French Open. He surprised many by beating the 12th seed, Fernando González. This was his biggest win at a Grand Slam at that time. He reached the third round before losing.
Big Successes: 2011 Season
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The year 2011 was a great one for Dolgopolov. At the 2011 Australian Open, he had his best Grand Slam performance. He reached the quarterfinals! He beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and even the world No. 4, Robin Söderling. He eventually lost to Andy Murray.
Later that year, he reached his first ATP tour final at the 2011 Brasil Open. He won his first ATP singles title at the 2011 ATP Studena Croatia Open. He beat Marin Čilić in a tough three-set match.
He also won his first ATP doubles title at Indian Wells. He teamed up with Xavier Malisse. They even beat famous players like Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in the final.
At the 2011 US Open, he reached the fourth round. He played against the world No. 1, Novak Djokovic. Dolgopolov had a very close first set, but Djokovic won. By April 2011, Dolgopolov reached his career-high ranking of No. 20.
More Achievements: 2012–2017
In 2012, Dolgopolov reached the final of the 2012 Brisbane International. He also won his first ATP 500 title at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. He beat Tommy Haas in the final. His highest career ranking was No. 13 on January 16, 2012.
In 2014, he had another great run. He reached the final of the 2014 Rio Open in Brazil. He beat David Ferrer before losing to Rafael Nadal. He also made it to his first Masters 1000 semifinal at Indian Wells. He beat Nadal and Milos Raonic there before losing to Federer. These results helped him get back into the world's top 30 players.
In 2015, he reached his second Masters 1000 semifinal in Cincinnati. He beat Tomáš Berdych before losing to Novak Djokovic.
In 2016, Dolgopolov represented Ukraine at the 2016 Hopman Cup with Elina Svitolina. They reached the final but lost to Australia. In 2017, he won his third ATP title at the 2017 Argentina Open. He defeated top player Kei Nishikori. He also reached the fourth round of the 2017 US Open (tennis).
Later Career and Retirement
In 2018, Dolgopolov reached the third round of the 2018 Australian Open. He played his last professional match in May 2018. On May 1, 2021, he officially announced his retirement from tennis.
Playing Style
Dolgopolov had a very unique and exciting playing style. He was known for being unpredictable. He could hit powerful shots or soft, tricky ones.
- Serve: His serve was very quick and hard to read. He could surprise opponents with its speed.
- Forehand: He used a special jumping forehand shot. This shot could pull his opponents far off the court.
- Backhand: He usually hit his backhand with two hands. But he also used a one-handed slice shot often. He could hit his backhand very hard for winners.
- Overall: He was fast around the court and good at coming to the net. His playing style was sometimes compared to Roger Federer or Andy Murray. Some also compared him to Fabrice Santoro because of his unusual shots. His slice shot was one of the best on the tour.
Health Challenges
Dolgopolov has a condition called Gilbert's syndrome. This affects his liver and blood. It can make him feel very tired, especially when he travels a lot. He needed special treatments and diets to manage his condition.
Military Service
In March 2022, Alexandr Dolgopolov returned to Ukraine. He volunteered to help fight against the Russian invasion. He serves as a drone operator. In April 2022, when Wimbledon banned tennis players from Belarus and Russia, he supported the decision. He said that everyone should understand the sacrifices being made in Ukraine.
Davis Cup Participation
Dolgopolov played for Ukraine in the Davis Cup in his early career. He had some disagreements with the Ukrainian Tennis Federation about playing. He wanted to represent his country but also felt that the federation needed to change. He even thought about changing his citizenship at one point. However, he continued to play for Ukraine.
Images for kids
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Dolgopolov at the 2015 Aegon Championships
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Dolgopolov playing at the 2011 Halle Open
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Dolgopólov para niños
