Dolgopolov Trounces Troicki To Book U.S. Open Round of 16 Spot

September 2, 2017 | By Brian Coleman

Despite an ongoing match-fixing investigation into a suspicious loss in Winston-Salem last week, Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov has been laser-focused at the U.S. Open so far this week. That continued on Saturday as he lost just five games total in a 6-1, 6-0, 6-4 blowout of Serbia’s Viktor Troicki to move into the fourth round.

“It’s unbelievable, really,” Dolgopolov said of his performance thus far in Flushing Meadows. It’s one of my best matches lately. I’m really happy that I’m healthy again…Now I’m in the second week, so it’s unbelievable.”

Dolgopolov was just unconscious in his play on Saturday, hitting 24 winners, breaking seven times and didn’t face a break point through the first two sets. He is into the fourth round at the U.S. Open for the second time in his career (2011).

In his post-match press conference, he was once again asked about the Tennis Integrity Unit’s (TIU) investigation into a match between him and Thiago Monteiro at the Winston-Salem Open, a match where Monteiro recorded his first ever ATP Tour win on a hard court.

“Not much,” he said when asked on the effect the investigation has had on his play. “You can see I’m playing. I’m fit. I’m doing well. Obviously it’s disappointing, but not more. If people want to write something, they write something. You can’t stop them from doing it. It’s just not under my control.”

He will look to carry that same mindset into a likely showdown with top-seed Rafael Nadal, who is set to take to the court later on Saturday. Nadal will meet Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer.

Former champion Juan Martin del Potro advanced in routine fashion with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Spain’s Roberto Bautista-Agut. Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open winner, only had his serve broken once and fired 38 winners to book his spot in the final 16.

Awaiting him in the next round is sixth-seed Dominic Thiem, who came back from an early break deficit in the opening set to beat 30th seeded Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

“I am pretty satisfied. I mean, it was way better than the first two rounds,” said Thiem. “I’m very happy that I’m through in three sets…He’s in a very good form no and also the previous weeks and month, so it was a tough match. For sure, by far, the best performance by me.”

Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber advanced to the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the fourth time in his career and for the first time since 2014 with a straight-sets win over Australia’s John Millman. Kohlschreiber saved five break points and hit 44 winners to nail down a 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory. He draws the winner of third-seed Roger Federer and 31st seed Feliciano Lopez for a spot in the quarterfinals.


Brian Coleman

 Brian Coleman is the Senior Editor for New York Tennis Magazine. He may be reached at brianc@usptennis.com

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