When Tennis' Most Unorthodox Player Challenged Nadal's Greatest Hard Court Streak
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- čas přidán 10. 03. 2024
- 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Withdrawn Miami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 😅
@Laland_1196 Not in the title it isn't. Only in description.
@@SJ-di5zu You don't have to mention that. We all know he would have won 1,000 matches in a row except for his 500 injuries.
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
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 used to love watching Dolgopolov. he was mesmerizing
He was really fun indeed!
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!
I loved his quick and explosive shots. Sometimes you didnt really know what shot or angle he was doing until last second.
Exactly!
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!
Man I loved Dolgopolov. Absolute genius.
Yessirr
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!
Unorthodox but very effective!
Yessir
Young Medvedev looked at Dolgopolov and thought: "I can fix his shots"
Hahahha
@@RogerThatTennis What most people forget is that Daniil was very talented in math and physics, the two subjects usually used for measuring IQ in one way or another.
Great match bro! Miss this guy on the tour
Thanks Mo!
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
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!
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!
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!
czcams.com/video/VI6vGHIX1Sg/video.html Insane point from that match.
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
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!
Dolgopolov was one of my favourite players. A thrilling player to watch. Power, anticipation, unpredictable shots and great touch.
Yessir, exactly
Great edit
Thank you!
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
That was entertaining i loved it :)
Glad to hear :)
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!
Great video!! I miss Dolgopolov.
Grazie Anna!
apparently he's busy fighting russians now
I saw Dolgo a couple time up close at IW. Amazing performer.
Must’ve been nice!
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
He doesn't hit it on the way up. I've checked it frame-by-frame. It's an inch or two down the apex.
That said, he and Tanner have/had the _optimal_ timing for service. "Orthodox" has nothing to do with the price of eggs in China. If people want to coach kids how to serve, show them Dolgopolov and Tanner videos. I learned tennis when RT was hot and I couldn't believe that slingshot-from-nowhere.
hahaha, nice trick bro :D i love it!
Haha
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!
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 loved watching this guy back in the day.
Really fun to watch indeed!
I remember I used to love watching a Dolgopolov match because you never knew what was gonna happen 😂
Haha exactly
I will NEVER forget that service motion!!!
So good haha
Dolgopolov is a beast.... It takes one to defeat one.....
Yessir
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!!
Meddy took dolgo unorthodox to whole new level by winning major 😂
Haha right
Dolgo was a beast! Different breed
For sure man!
I've seen him play in Como and he was amazing.
Must have been!
What a match incredible!!!
Very good indeed!
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
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!
His backhand is so interesting
💯
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 ❤
♥️
I was at that match and remember it quite vividly ))
That's great :)
I miss watching Dolgo play he just bounced around the court like a flea and made you earn every point. Best unorthodox ball striker ever.
Exactly, guy had bounce haha
Dolgo had a firecracker of a backhand!
Amazing indeed!
When you have a name like Dolgopolov you have to do things extraordinarily.
Hahaha exactly
Dolgo’s backhand is so much quicker than his forehand 😂
Like a sling shot haha
He was my favorite at that era..
Great player!
Loved watching him!
Reallly fun :)
His backhand is insane!!!
It is man!
Great match!
Thank you!
most explosive player
Moved so quickly
What a match ..
Really good
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..
I miss the old IW fast courts. Nowadays it’s been almost as slow as some clay courts.
Yeah man :/
I remember Dog cranking serves in the 140s even given his smaller stature
Yessir crazy power
Dolgo made fun to watch tennis. I'd had pay to see him play
Glad you got a chance!
Amazing play, how come I've never heard of him....
He stopped playing a few years ago. Was a great player though!
El “error no forzado”, en el penúltimo punto del partido, fue forzado por la decenas de reveses planos cruzados a dos manos 🙌🏿💥🎾
Exactamente Alejandro
Not sure what happened to him but this man was a true talent in his generation.
Great player indeed
Bet Nadal never forgot that encounter. Dolgopolov was a genius........
Hard to forget!
When Dolgo was literally faster than the tennis ball.. what a match and what a drama!! 😅
Hahaha
What a player
Yesirrr
Muitíssimo talentoso!
Um monstro!
Why did i think this was Zverev for a minute lol
Haha brutal
No spoiler and the scoreboard couldnt be bigger on the lebt of the screen in the first seconds haha
😭
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
Scary level
Sooo good!
Dolgo is a legend🎉
Amazing player!
Then only thing I found unusual is his inside out forehand seems to have some slice to it.
Don’t always see that!
He reminds me of niculescu. Likes to flatten backhand. Floats a lot of forehands. Then inject pace out of nowhere.
Yessir
nice
👍
Thanks man!
R.I.P Dolgopolov, he was a great player
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
Why his pic on thumbnail reminds me of Ostapenko 😂😂
Hahaha noo
0:37 "no spoiler" lol
I messed up lol
@@RogerThatTennis even the best makes mistakes :P
I miss watching Dolgopolov play but he has more important things now
Exactly
Like fighting for black rock and vanguard?
Dolgopolov was a joy to watch. Regardless his unusual style. So amazing
He really was!
Dolgopolov fighting for Ukraine now as he did against Nadal in this match.
Exactly man
I miss Dolgo.. his game was so unpredictable
Very unpredictable Mark!
Dolgopolov had too much talent for what he went on to achieve
Def had a lot of talent, not a bad career though
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.
And today Nordi beat Novak in Indian Wells 2024!
Crazy!
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
It's weird I didn'tt see any of Dolgo's extreme backhand slices.
Yeah :/
I don’t feel he’s that unorthodox to be honest, he takes the ball really early though and that is rare. Super talented dude, just couldn’t put it all together mentally, but that’s common in tennis.
I mean his strokes were pretty unconventional no?
The backhand is quick and snappy but pretty normal otherwise. The forehand he raises the arm up a little high but lots of guys do. I think it just looks more that way because of how fast he winds up and how early he takes the ball. Cool player! Thanks for covering him.
He kept Djoker on the ropes in a match at the US open and even nearly beat him
Yessirr, that was a close one
Same backhand
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 🙏🏻
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
The Dog was a tremendous player. Such a shame he had to retire early. This was a great performance.
Very good player indeed!