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By Chris Oddo | Sunday February 19, 2017

 
Alexandr Dolgpolov

Alexandr Dolgopolov battled past Kei Nishikori in the Argentina Open final to record his first title since the summer of 2012.

Photo Source: Argentina Open

Alexandr Dolgopolov came from out of nowhere to claim the Argentina Open title on Sunday. The World No. 66 had dropped ten of his previous 11 matches prior to tearing through the draw on the red clay of Buenos Aires, but by defeating top-seeded Kei Nishikori, 7-6(4), 6-4, he proved this week in South America that when he’s on his game he can play with anybody.

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Dolgopolov did not drop a single set all week and knocked off the tournament’s first, second and fourth-seeded players en route to his first title since 2012.

On Sunday he had to battle extremely hard to claim a first set that featured nine combined break points (six for Dolgopolov and three for Nishikori, none converted) and ended with Dolgopolov claiming his second set point in the tiebreaker.


Nishikori, who has now dropped six consecutive finals dating back to last season, stuck with Dolgopolov through six games of the second set, but the 28-year-old converted his second break point of the seventh game with a wicked down-the-line backhand return to take an advantage he would never relinquish.

Dolgopolov did not face a break point in the second set and he rolled to the finish line, finishing proceedings in one hour and 40 minutes for his first victory in six career matches against World No.5 Nishikori.

Dolgopolov had never won a set against Nishikori previously, but the mercurial, athletic Ukrainian has never been the most predictable talent. He may take his lumps at times, but when he plays inspired tennis he can be a real treat to watch—and a terror to face.

 

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