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 Oleksandrovych Dolgopolov (born November 7, 1988) is a retired professional tennis player from Ukraine. He was known for his exciting and unpredictable playing style. In May 2010, he changed the spelling of his first name from Oleksandr to Alexandr. Dolgopolov's best performance at a major tournament was reaching the quarterfinals of the 2011 Australian Open. He reached his highest singles ranking of World No. 13 in January 2012.
Contents
Early Life
Alexandr grew up surrounded by tennis. His father, Oleksandr Sr., was a professional tennis player for the Soviet team, and his mother was a gymnast. He began playing tennis when he was only three years old, with his father as his coach.
His father also coached Andrei Medvedev, one of Ukraine's best tennis players. Because of this, young Alexandr traveled with his parents and got to play with famous players like Andre Agassi and Boris Becker. Some players, like Jim Courier, even remembered hitting tennis balls with him when he was just a toddler.
Tennis Career
Starting Out
As a junior player, Dolgopolov was ranked as high as No. 21 in the world in 2005. He turned professional in 2006 and made his debut on the ATP Tour, the top level of men's professional tennis.
In 2009, Dolgopolov decided he wanted to develop his own style and parted ways with his father as his coach. He hired Australian coach Jack Reader and changed his name from Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. to Alexandr Dolgopolov. He and his father did not speak for six months but later made up.
Making a Name for Himself
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In 2010, Dolgopolov began to have more success. At the 2010 French Open, he defeated the 12th-seeded player, Fernando González, which was a huge victory for him at the time.
The year 2011 was a major breakthrough for Dolgopolov. He reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 Australian Open, his best result in a Grand Slam tournament. He beat top players like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and world No. 4 Robin Söderling along the way. Later that year, he won his first ATP singles title at the Croatia Open.
Reaching New Heights
In January 2012, Dolgopolov reached his highest-ever ranking of world No. 13. That year, he won his first ATP 500 tournament, the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., by defeating Tommy Haas in the final.
In 2014, he had a great run at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, a major tournament. He defeated world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and reached the semifinals, where he lost to Roger Federer. These big wins helped him return to the world's top 30 players.
Later Career and Retirement
Dolgopolov continued to compete at a high level for several more years. In 2017, he won his third ATP title at the 2017 Argentina Open, beating top-seeded player Kei Nishikori. He also reached the fourth round of the US Open.
After struggling with injuries, Dolgopolov played his last match in May 2018. He officially announced his retirement from professional tennis on May 1, 2021.
Playing Style
Dolgopolov was known for his unique and entertaining style of play. He could play defensively but was also very aggressive, often hitting many winners. His serve was very fast and had a quick, unusual rhythm that often surprised his opponents.
He was very creative with his shots. He could hit a jumping topspin forehand and often used a one-handed slice on his backhand, which is less common for two-handed players. Because of his speed and unpredictable shots, he was often compared to French player Fabrice Santoro, who was famous for his tricky style.
Health Issues
Dolgopolov has a condition called Gilbert's syndrome, which is passed down in families. It affects the liver and can cause tiredness. This condition sometimes became worse when he had to travel long distances for tournaments, requiring special treatments to manage it.
Military Service
In March 2022, Dolgopolov returned to Ukraine to serve as a volunteer in the military during the Russian invasion. He works as a drone operator. He has spoken about the importance of supporting his country during this difficult time.
Career Finals
Masters 1000 finals
Doubles: 1 (1 title)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Mar 2011 | Indian Wells Open, United States | Hard |  Xavier Malisse |
 Roger Federer Stanislas Wawrinka |
6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–7] |
Team finals
Team events: 1 (1 runner-up)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Jan 2016 | Hopman Cup, Perth, Western Australia | Hard (i) |  Elina Svitolina |
 Daria Gavrilova Nick Kyrgios |
0–2 |
ATP Tour singles finals: 9 (3 titles, 6 runners-up)
| Result | W/L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Feb 2011 | Brasil Open, Brazil | Clay |  Nicolás Almagro |
3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Win | 1–1 | Jul 2011 | Croatia Open, Croatia | Clay |  Marin Čilić |
6–4, 3–6, 6–3 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Jan 2012 | Brisbane International, Australia | Hard |  Andy Murray |
1–6, 3–6 |
| Win | 2–2 | Aug 2012 | Washington Open, U.S. | Hard |  Tommy Haas |
6–7(7–9), 6–4, 6–1 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Oct 2012 | Valencia Open, Spain | Hard (i) | David Ferrer |
1–6, 6–3, 4–6 |
| Loss | 2–4 | Feb 2014 | Rio Open, Brazil | Clay | Rafael Nadal |
3–6, 6–7(3–7) |
| Win | 3–4 | Feb 2017 | Argentina Open, Argentina | Clay |  Kei Nishikori |
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
| Loss | 3–5 | Jul 2017 | Swedish Open, Sweden | Clay | David Ferrer |
4–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 3–6 | Oct 2017 | Shenzhen Open, China | Hard | David Goffin |
4–6, 7–6(7–5), 3–6 |
Wins Over Top 10 Players
Dolgopolov has a record of 10 wins and 47 losses against players who were ranked in the top 10 at the time of the match.
| # | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | ||||||
| 1. |  Robin Söderling |
4 | Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia | Hard | 4R | 1–6, 6–3, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 2. | David Ferrer |
7 | Nice, France | Clay | QF | 6–4, 1–6, 7–5 |
| 2012 | ||||||
| 3. |  Jo-Wilfried Tsonga |
5 | Madrid, Spain | Clay | 3R | 7–5, 3–6, 7–6(7–2) |
| 2014 | ||||||
| 4. | David Ferrer |
4 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Clay | SF | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 5. | Rafael Nadal |
1 | Indian Wells, United States | Hard | 3R | 6–3, 3–6, 7–6(7–5) |
| 6. | Stan Wawrinka |
3 | Miami, United States | Hard | 4R | 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 2015 | ||||||
| 7. | Rafael Nadal |
10 | Queen's Club, England | Grass | 1R | 6–3, 6–7(6–8), 6–4 |
| 8. |  Tomáš Berdych |
6 | Cincinnati, United States | Hard | QF | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 2016 | ||||||
| 9. | David Ferrer |
8 | Acapulco, Mexico | Hard | 2R | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 2017 | ||||||
| 10. | Kei Nishikori |
5 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Clay | F | 7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
See also
In Spanish: Aleksandr Dolgopólov para niños
