TENNIS – Aleksandr Dolgopolov upset Rafa Nadal 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4 at the Queen’s Club event in London. Freshly minted Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka started his grass campaign with a convincing 6-3 6-4 win in 49 minutes over this year’s Australian Open quarterfinalist Nick Kyrgios as Andy Murray beat Taiwanese qualifier Yen Hsun Lu 6-4 7-5 Diego Sampaolo
Dolgopolov scored his second consecutive win over Nadal. The Ukrainian player broke Nadal in the 2nd game of the match and raced out to a 3-0 lead. He then earned three break points for 4-0 but Nadal saved them all. However, Dolgopolov was able to maintain the one break advantage to close out the 1st set with 6-3.
There were no breaks in the second set which came down to the tie-break. Nadal went up a mini-break but Dolgopolov reeled off four points to take a 5-3 lead. Nadal faced a match point at 5-6 but he saved it. Nadal earned the set point with a volley before converting the set point.
Nadal broke serve for 2-1 in the decider. He led 4-2 at one point in the set but Dolgopolov converted his second break point to draw level to 4-4. Nadal had triple break points in the 9th game for a 5-4 lead but Dolgopolov saved them to hold for 5-4. Nadal was again forcing to serve to stay in the match. The Ukrainian player earned his second match point in the 10th game and this time around he did not let it go begging. He unleashed a forehand passing shot to clinch the set 6-4 and thus the match.
“I am not happy I lost a match that I had the chance to win but that’s it. The good thing is that I am positive mentally. I hope to have some good days of practice here and some good rest at home and I gonna come back strong with a good week of practice before Wimbledon,” said Nadal.
The first set went on serve until 4-3 in the first set when Wawrinka went up 15-40 on Kyrgios’ serve before getting the break on his second opportunity after a backhand error from Kyrgios. Wawrinka then served out the set at 6-3. Wawrinka broke serve in the 3rd game of the 2nd set before saving three break back points at 3-2. The Lausanne player closed out the match with his third ace 6-3 6-4.
“I am happy with the way I am already playing”, said Wawrinka, who reached the semifinal at the Queen’s last year.
A much disappointed Kyrgios said after the match: “I just felt uncomfortable the whole time. I was not feeling great. He hasn’t had much time on the grass but obviously winning the French Open he is comfortable. He hit the ball massive, free swinging out there”
Murray beat Lu 6-4 7-5. Lu broke serve in the 5th game with a forehand pass but Murray broke straight back before converting on his second break point in the 10th game after an error from Yen Hun Lu for 6-4.
Lu recovered from 0-40 at the start of the 2nd set before taking a 2-0 lead. However, Lu could not maintain the lead as Murray drew level at 2-2. Murray avoided the danger of a tie-break at 6-5 and earned his first match point with a forehand lob to take it 6-4 7-5. Murray will face Fernando Verdasco in the next round.
Queen’s defending champion Grigor Dimitrov fought back from a set and a break down to battle past Sam Querrey 4-6 6-3 6-4. The match was suspended overnight on Monday and resumed on Tuesday.
Chelsea football coach José Mourinho attended the matches at the Queen’s Club.
Halle Gerry Weber ATP 500:
Kei Nishikori edged past Dominic Thiem 7-6(4) 7-5. Nishikori had to battle hard in the first set when he fended off three set points and had to save nine of the ten break point chances. Nishikori will take on German wild card Dustin Brown in the next round.
Nishikori opened up a 2-0 lead but he wasted a set point at 5-3. Thiem broke back to draw level to 5-5. Thiem earned three set points as Nishikori was serving at 5-6 15-40 but the Japanese star clinched the set in the tie-break 7-4 points.
“There were some ups and downs but it was a good match for the first time on grass. I am happy to win in two sets”, said Nishikori.
In the other matches Gael Monfils beat Lukas Rosol 6-3 6-4, while Steve Johnson beat Bernard Tomic 6-3 7-6(4). Jerzy Janowicz beat Pablo Cuevas 6-3 6-4. Andreas Seppi overcame Tommy Haas 7-5 6-2. Ivo Karlovic fought back from a set down to edge passed Santiago Giraldo 6-7 (4) 6-4 6-4.
