When Tennis' Most Unorthodox Player Challenged Nadal's Greatest Hard Court Streak
2024 ж. 10 Нау.
368 326 Рет қаралды
Indian Wells 2014. Throwback to when Alexandr Dolgopolov challenged one of Rafael Nadal's greatest hard-court streaks. Rafa had a 22-win streak in North America coming into this match.
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Nadal had won the last 22 matches in North America coming in to this match!
Low key disappointed to find out Rafa's greatest hard court streak was actually a cherry picked one: north America only which meant not really a HC streak.😅
@@rachmadhidayat9996I mean he won Indian Wells, Montreal, Cincinnati, and the US Open all in a row, only split up by the clay season. That’s 3 M1000 and a slam during the hardest era. He also won 20 matches in a row in 2022 which only ended because he had a rib injury during the IW final
@SJ-di5zu No that was 2013 where his HC record was: won IW Withdrawn Miami Won Montreal Won Cinci Won USO Lost Beijing F Lost Sanghai SF Lost Paris SF Lost WTF F In 2014 he: Won Doha Lost AO F Lost IW R32 to Dolgo So his real HC winning streak at the time was 1 😅
@@rachmadhidayat9996they are saying North American hardcourts ..not Asian swing and indoors
@Laland_1196 Not in the title it isn't. Only in description.
Dolgo has the most unusual groundstrokes but hits the ball so freakin early it's on you before you knew what hit you! He's also an exceptional athlete‼
Really good indeed!
He has some crazy talent with that funky style of play, it's very hard to play like him with that technique. Very underrated because people always talk about Kyrgios, Dustin Brown, etc.
As early as his grand slam exits
@@nfltrrrqwsa7512 Said by every so-called tennis fan who doesn't appreciate the sport itself or the variety of players because of his narrow-sightedness
I'd like to know what kind of string technology he used for his rackets. Those ground strokes are so smooth, kind of like watching a different version of Manarino
Loved watching Dolgopolov, first 'unorthodox' player I saw who made me excited to keep up with players outside the normal big stars. Hope he's well and makes it home safely
Hopefully!
Santoro, Brown, how old are you 21!?
He is now in the army, a soldier.
@@larvancioramos9748if he was really 21, or maybe started watching tennis later in his life, what's your problem? unnecessary comment
You got it wrong,Stahovskiy is in army, not Dolgopolov
Incredible guts from Dolgopolov! Nadal does not beat himself and it takes massive guts to defeat him. That look of relief on his face too when he finally took the match!
You can feel the relief haha
Thanks for remembering the dog! I loved the way he hitted the ball on the rise of the toss on his serve, those super flat explosive bh's, and his crazy slice shots. It was always entertaining to watch him play with his funky play style :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Dolgo was unbelievably talented.
He was man!
I love how he took the time to conceal the score, but there’s a massive scoreboard displayed in the background 😂
😅
The one time I went to Indian Wells, it was on that day, and I sat in the upper deck completely transfixed on that match. I was always a fan of Dolgopolov because of his insane shot making ability. I put him in the same category as Fognini...not particularly big guys, but super talented, fast, and big hitters for their size. Fognini was/is still much more of a head case, while Dolgopolov would sometimes play a little too loose. But both always so fun to watch. Hope & pray Dolgopolov stays safe in the war to defend Ukraine.
Thanks for sharing John!
I loved his quick and explosive shots. Sometimes you didnt really know what shot or angle he was doing until last second.
Exactly!
Great match bro! Miss this guy on the tour
Thanks Mo!
Man I loved Dolgopolov. Absolute genius.
Yessirr
Miss this guy. Right up there with the most entertaining and talented we've seen. So cool too.
Was really fun to watch him indeed!
Young Medvedev looked at Dolgopolov and thought: "I can fix his shots"
Hahahha
Dolgopolov was truly an enjoyable player to watch because he doesn't just stick to executing well-mastered tactical patterns, but he is also capable of showing initiative according to the game situations. And this ability is not so common!
Exactly man!
Unorthodox but very effective!
Yessir
Dolgopolov is a warrior on the tennis court. He is also a warrior defending his homeland.
Yessir
😂😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂
He should have defended his country in 2014 from Victoria Nuland, the US and the EU.
I've never ever seen such a speedy footwork like Dolgo demonstrated in that match. The monster😮
Yeah, the guy moved like a hummingbird
i used to love watching Dolgopolov. he was mesmerizing
He was really fun indeed!
Luv and miss Dolgo! Such a unique style of play. The body English he'd put on some strokes was fun to watch as well.
For sure!
I'm a simple man , I see a player who hits hard and early , I support him . Federer , Davydenko , Blake , Delpotro are all my favorites
Hahah gotta love it
Gonzo?
Don't forget Nalbandian!
FUN FACT: Alexandr Dolgopolov and Xavier Malisse defeated Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka in the final, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), [10-7] to win the men's doubles tennis title at the 2011 Indian Wells Masters. (source: Wikipedia) That must have been some match ..
Thanks for sharing!
kzhead.info/sun/ia1vpquAgIpnhp8/bejne.html Insane point from that match.
Dolgopolov was one of my favourite players. A thrilling player to watch. Power, anticipation, unpredictable shots and great touch.
Yessir, exactly
Unbelievable. What a talent. Pure. Complicated, beautiful to watch. I was live at that match. Probably 1 of 7-8 people, vs 15 000 that were rooting for Alex. Great moment in tennis!
Thanks for sharing!
Wow, I forgot how much I loved watching Dolgo. What a player! I knew nothing about him and was walking out of the grounds at IW at night to go home and heard excitement on court 6. First time I had seen him play, possibly this same year, and he was in an absolute dogfight with someone I can’t remember and came out on top in the 3rd set TB. Crowd was going wild for him and wouldn’t stop cheering and then he threw his shoes to the crowd! A brilliant wait to end the night and made me a lifetime fan.
Wow thanks for sharing! He definitely was an entertainer
Apart from the tennis match itself, more than a decent editing I have to admit, and a pleasure to watch. +1 subscriber, wish your channel develops and grows.
Thanks Taras, I really appreciate the comment!
He’s also a very smiley guy, with infectious positivity on court. A guy well known for his effervescent personality, never looking miserable
Yessirr
Dolgo is one of the most exciting players. I miss him
For sure!
I remember I used to love watching a Dolgopolov match because you never knew what was gonna happen 😂
Haha exactly
Ho avuto la fortuna e il piacere di vederlo giocare dal vivo al Challenger di Como prima che esplodesse... Pochi mesi prima... Giocatore veramente impressionante. Tirava delle rasoiate incredibili...
Thanks for sharing!
When you have a name like Dolgopolov you have to do things extraordinarily.
Hahaha exactly
Exactly, you entered the technical team but you perfectly explained Gauff's shortcomings at this moment. She is still young and could try to improve something otherwise she will remain a halfway player
Great edit
Thank you!
Meddy took dolgo unorthodox to whole new level by winning major 😂
Haha right
That was entertaining i loved it :)
Glad to hear :)
Dolgopolov's forehand looks like Richard Gasquet's one, and his backhands are amazing especially the short ones with angles. I had never seen his play before, thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed!
hahaha, nice trick bro :D i love it!
Haha
Dolgo’s backhand is so much quicker than his forehand 😂
Like a sling shot haha
Yes I missed Dolgopolov also. ❤❤❤ I remember his unique fast so early hit groundstrokes..
Yessirr
Dolgopolov was one of those few and rare players like Roscoe Tanner, Kevin Curren, and myself who hit their serve while the toss is still going up. Most all players hit the toss at its apex or on the way down. He was a big hitter.
The dynamics of that is crazy
Dolgopolov is a beast.... It takes one to defeat one.....
Yessir
I loved watching this guy back in the day.
Really fun to watch indeed!
I saw Dolgo a couple time up close at IW. Amazing performer.
Must’ve been nice!
Dogopolov, unorthodox groundstrokes but very effective, perhaps the greatest maximizer of his serve (dude barely 6ft and can serve at same contact point,pace and spin as most 6'7 players)
Exactly!!
Havent thought about Dolgo for a while but that backhand is as crispy as ever. He reminds me of Paul but with the ball speed of Sinner, especially bh
Yessirr!
I will NEVER forget that service motion!!!
So good haha
Great video!! I miss Dolgopolov.
Grazie Anna!
apparently he's busy fighting russians now
I've seen him play in Como and he was amazing.
Must have been!
Damn, I miss Dolgopolov. It seems like he fell off the radar out of nowhere. But boy was he a joy to watch when he was hitting it like this. Hope him and the family have been keeping well ❤
♥️
Incredible how quickly Dolgopalov manages to overwhelm the opponent a few balls in! Would need someone like a Verdasco with great angles to counter it by making it uneasy and steal time ...
Yeah man, he takes so much time off his opponent
most explosive player
Moved so quickly
What a match incredible!!!
Very good indeed!
I was at that match and remember it quite vividly ))
That's great :)
Saw Dolgo play Jesse Levine on Court 17 at the USOpen. Came back from two sets down in an epic battle. He had the majority of the crowd behind him at an American tournament! Very few players are as entertaining to watch. Fast twitch muscles is only part of the way to describe why he was so dangerous. Shame he battled a physical ailment that made it difficult for him in long contests.
Thanks for sharing man!
I miss Dolgopolov. Injuries meant that he wasn’t supposed to have a long tennis career but he had a special game. In 2014 he had a big chance at beating Djokovic at Cincinnati. He couldn’t get it done and it felt like things fell apart after that.
Injuries suck man :/
I just Pray that Alex Dolgopolov stays Safe in the Ukrainian War against Russia . Saw an Amazing Interview with Him after He left Tennis to Support His Country 🥺🙏🙏
@@chekamystery675 I hope he does more than stay safe. I hope he helps Ukraine WIN.
@@chekamystery675 Dolgopolov didn't retire from tennis to help his country in the war, he retired ages ago before the war even happened. Stop lying.
@@jonsoler3648 Thanks but I wasn't actually lying. I just wasn't informed enough until I did some more research and Yes, of course You are right. Stay Safe, wherever You are..
Loved watching him!
Reallly fun :)
Great match!
Thank you!
Dolgo made fun to watch tennis. I'd had pay to see him play
Glad you got a chance!
I miss the old IW fast courts. Nowadays it’s been almost as slow as some clay courts.
Yeah man :/
He was my favorite at that era..
Great player!
His backhand is insane!!!
It is man!
Almost Santoro-like in his unusual approach to the game, though The Magician's style of tennis was even weirder. The type of player that will make Nadal wake up screaming in the middle of the night for many years to come, just like Dustin Brown.
Hahahaha
When Dolgo was literally faster than the tennis ball.. what a match and what a drama!! 😅
Hahaha
I remember Dog cranking serves in the 140s even given his smaller stature
Yessir crazy power
What a match ..
Really good
His backhand is so interesting
💯
El “error no forzado”, en el penúltimo punto del partido, fue forzado por la decenas de reveses planos cruzados a dos manos 🙌🏿💥🎾
Exactamente Alejandro
Amazing play, how come I've never heard of him....
He stopped playing a few years ago. Was a great player though!
Then only thing I found unusual is his inside out forehand seems to have some slice to it.
Don’t always see that!
What a player
Yesirrr
Dolgopolov was one of my favourite players. I always thought he had the potential to make it to No.1.
Great player, tough to be number one during the big 3 era though haha
Muitíssimo talentoso!
Um monstro!
Dolgopolov was a joy to watch. Regardless his unusual style. So amazing
He really was!
nice 👍
Thanks man!
Not sure what happened to him but this man was a true talent in his generation.
Great player indeed
R.I.P Dolgopolov, he was a great player
He kept Djoker on the ropes in a match at the US open and even nearly beat him
Yessirr, that was a close one
I miss watching Dolgopolov play but he has more important things now
Exactly
Like fighting for black rock and vanguard?
He reminds me of niculescu. Likes to flatten backhand. Floats a lot of forehands. Then inject pace out of nowhere.
Yessir
No spoiler and the scoreboard couldnt be bigger on the lebt of the screen in the first seconds haha
😭
Why his pic on thumbnail reminds me of Ostapenko 😂😂
Hahaha noo
I pray that he’s protected by the Lord knowing he’s fighting for his country. He is such a great gentleman and outstanding athlete. God bless him and pray he gets home safe 😢❤
Hopefully 🙏🏻
Nadal leads h2h with Dolgopolov with 7-2. More interesting are Rafa's matches with Dustin Brown (2-0 Brown h2h). Both on grass.
Crazy haha
Классная игра!👍
Thanks man!
I was at this match 🙌🏼
Must’ve been crazy!
Maybe I’m getting old, but this match just seemed to have so much more excitement than the many very good matches we’ve been getting lately.
Dolgopolov had too much talent for what he went on to achieve
Def had a lot of talent, not a bad career though
I miss Dolgo.. his game was so unpredictable
Very unpredictable Mark!
Same backhand
0:37 "no spoiler" lol
I messed up lol
@@RogerThatTennis even the best makes mistakes :P
It is nadal who is unorthodox. Dolgopolov is an orthodox player meeting the ball early and attacking the net
The Dog was a tremendous player. Such a shame he had to retire early. This was a great performance.
Very good player indeed!
My gosh! Dolgopolov is like a Rag Doll out there but he gets it done!
Hahaha
I would put also Gulbis in that category. With Dolgo & Gulbis even the Big3 can’t read their games
Yeah lord Gulbis gotta be up there
0:49 No Spoilers-> shows score in background 🤣
I effed up my dog 😂
And today Nordi beat Novak in Indian Wells 2024!
Crazy!
It's weird I didn'tt see any of Dolgo's extreme backhand slices.
Yeah :/
Nadal seems to quite often struggle against unorthodox players
Yep, definitely did
He's a bit like a right handed Marcelo Rios
He is man haha
My impression at the time was that Dolgopolov ruined his carrier by really trying to draw every drop out of his incredible run of form. He played so many tournaments, and so many matches. Eventually he got injured and never came back to that kind of form again, but instead withered away. Correct me if I°m wrong.
Maybe man, maybe
Dolgo was great player
Very good and really fun to watch!
❤❤🎉🎉