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Olek Dolgopolov Jr.

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#1 · (Edited)
This Ukrainian kid seems to be pretty talented. Hasn't even turned 18 yet, started the year ranked in the 1400s and is now at #374. :eek:

He has won not less than five futures titles this year and loves playing on clay. Lives in Kiev, coached by his father who was a pro in the 80's, plays right-handed with a double-handed backhand.

Has anyone ever seen him play? I believe the other 1988s like Korolev, Del Potro and Cilic have some company here (without the same amount of hype surrounding him of course).




Started at age 3, "I was training with Andrei Medvedev and started to play tennis".

Hobbies: Play soccer and fish

Favourite player: Marcelo Rios, "I guess I just like him". :p
 
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#329 ·
Dolgopolov sends shocked Soderling home

Alexander Dolgopolov stood tallest on the second Monday of Australian Open 2011, shocking fourth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling in five sets 1-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-2. The lesser-known Dolgopolov was in his element for the majority of the encounter, regularly wrong-footing his opponent with a dangerous mix of spins.

The opening set barely jolted the centre court crowd as Soderling did what any spectator might expect: pound the 46th-ranked Dolgopolov into submission. While the Ukrainian struggled with the heer velocity and depth of Soderling's ground strokes, the Swede was relentless, dropping only a single game in the first 21 minutes of the match.

One might watch Soderling and simply be in awe of the utter accuracy of his backcourt bullets. More often than not, they find the lines, which explains his failure to drop a single set, prior to today's match, in 2011.

However, in the second set, Dolgopolov snuck into the match. As if someone had let him in through the back door, he quietly but surely began to rattle the mammoth Swede. Cleverly, he began to use his slice to keep the less nimble Soderling off balance, complimenting those low balls with come uncanny retrieving from the back of the court.

But if there was one shot that the cool-headed Swede had not accounted for, it was the jumping-jack Dolgopolov forehand. Seemingly whipping the ball with every inch of his 183 cm frame, Dolgopolov curved an array of winners past the Soderling forehand time after time. He broke the fourth seed to lead 5-2, and closed the set out a game later.

Soderling was rattled. Dictating play against his Ukrainian opponent seemed to come at too high a cost, which was most evident when he frequently sent forehands wide and long. Meanwhile, Dolgopolov's sneaky ascent quickly turned into the match of his life as he took the third set with the loss of only a single game.

In the fourth set, the Swede conjured up a last stand. Willing his shots back into the court, and playing with some newfound purpose, he went up 4-0, although it must have been the most difficult 4-0 lead he had ever created. He relinquished one of the two breaks, but still managed to close out the set 6-4.

Going into the fifth, it was no secret that the Swede was vulnerable. Despite breaking in the first game, he gifted the break straight back to the 22 year old and promptly sent down 4-1. Once a player notorious for his inability to remain level headed, Soderling has made great strides in improving his mental fortitude. Today, however, his mental demons returned to taunt him.

Dolopolov refused to let up, finishing the match 6-2 in the fifth on his fourth match point.





"I started not really well. I was serving really bad," said Dolgopolov. "I mean, with a player like that on the baseline, he's really good. So, I mean, the first set I was struggling, and a break down in the second. I came back somehow and started to play better and better with every set. I'm really happy I'm through to the quarterfinal."



"I think it's like two matches in a row I win five setters. I feel well physically and really happy I got some wins against those kind of players, you know."



Dolgopolov will next face either Andy Murray or Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals.


"Well, for sure he doesn't give you any cheap points," Dolgopolov said about Murray. "I just watched the first set. He had like two unforced errors. It's really tough to play him. He has a good serve. If you start to play slow, he starts to bring up the rhythm and play winners. If you risk too much, you miss. He's an uncomfortable player to play."
 
#330 ·
Alexandr Dolgopolov - 24.01.11


Q. There were not too many people looking at you when you were playing four years old in Monte Carlo Country Club with Medvedev and others. What is the memory from there to today?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, I had a lot of good times, you know. I was on tour all the time when my father was a coach. Then I started to play myself.

It's a lot of work. Now I'm happy something's paying off and I'm getting my goals together and getting up there.

Q. Why didn't you pick up your father as a coach if he was such a good coach to bring Andrei No. 4 in the world?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Actually, he was coaching me until like 19 years old. Like only a few years he's not coaching me. It was a pretty tough time. We got a bit tired of each other because I always see him. It's pretty tough relationship, like father and coach.

So we decided it's better, and everybody's happy now.

Q. Your current coach is an Australian, Jack Reader. How did you get involved with him and what's he done for your game?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, my manager met us like two years ago. He's done a lot of my physical and mental, you know. I've got a lot more solid, consistent in the game. Maybe not so much in the tennis.

I was playing really well, but he just gave me the right way to play, got my game together.

Q. What are your thoughts on today's game? You've made it to the quarterfinals. What were your expectations and thoughts on today's game?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, I started not really well. I was serving really bad. I mean, with a player like that on the baseline, he's really good. So, I mean, the first set I was struggling, and a break down in the second.

I came back somehow and started to play better and better with every set. I'm really happy I'm through to the quarterfinal.

Q. There was some medical treatment in the third set. Did you notice that and try to make him run a bit more?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, I think he got something, tape on his leg. I went to the toilet break, so I didn't really see that a lot. I was just trying to stay focused and play my game.

Q. We don't know your next opponent yet. If it's Andy Murray, what sort of match would you expect with Andy Murray?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: For sure a tough match because he stays in the rallies, he really sees the ball good. It's tough to play winners with him. I mean, a tough, physical match. I need to play really solid to beat that kind of player.

Q. You're a cosmopolitan player: Ukrainian with an Australian coach and an Italian manager, Corrado Tschabuschnig. Why do you have an Italian manager?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: There's a lot of nice people in the world, so you just meet them all over.

I'm happy with my team now and I'm doing well.

Q. Is he here?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: He's not here now. He's been on the other slams, but not here now. Maybe he'll come for my match if I win another one.

Q. When you were very young and when you were touring with your father, what are the players that you remember meeting?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, for sure Thomas Muster was playing with me like the most, and Marc Rosset; they were playing the most with me. But I met pretty much all the players.

When there's a kid on tour, all the players try to play with him. I had a nice time.

Q. Anyone you liked in particular?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, I don't really remember it much, you know, because the first time we were traveling, I was like three, four, five years old, yeah.

And the second time I was like 10 years old. I was practicing already. I remember a few players. But not really much.

Q. Is this the best win of your career?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, for sure. I think it's like two matches in a row I win five setters. I feel well physically and really happy I got some wins against those kind of players, you know.

Q. If it is Andy Murray that you play next, what do you like about his game? What is going to be tough for you?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, for sure he doesn't give you any cheap points. I just watched the first set. He had like two unforced errors. It's really tough to play him. He has a good serve.

If you start to play slow, he starts to bring up the rhythm and play winners. If you risk too much, you miss. He's an uncomfortable player to play.

Q. Did you expect a little bit more from the world No. 4?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Not really. He was playing, I mean, well. I was just trying to stay in there. Probably I was doing good on the return, so that helped me win the match. Because he was serving well, and I was returning a lot, like 215. I saw the speed sometimes. I was guessing well reading the serve.

I can't say he played bad or something else. I was just trying to play my game.

Q. On the ATP website, I saw one of your hobbies is computer programming.

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, that used to be. But now I don't have any time to do that. We did one game. We actually finished it. I mean, the game is done, but we didn't have time. I'm not into it now anymore.

Q. What was the game?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: It was an online game, a Russian game. I was into it because I used to play them. But then I tried to make my own. We didn't really finish it.

Q. What sort of game was it?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: It's like an office game. You know, you have your character and you like evolve him. You have fights there. Just like an online life.

Q. You will play in the coming weeks in Buenos Aires and Acapulco if I am not wrong. Why these tournaments, and what do you expect from both cities, both tournaments?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, I'm more comfortable on clay because still sometimes my legs hurt, and I don't want to be staying on hard too much. I'm used to clay more. I think I can do good results there.

You know, I have a bit of a problem. I need visas. I'm not sure I'll make all the tournaments I want, but I'll try to go there.

Q. Who else is in the same management company with you with Tschabuschnig? Because you are the strongest, but there are more.

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: There's Viktor Troicki is pretty good, then Marcel Granollers, Igor Kunitsyn. Quite a few players. Ivan Dodig.

Q. What do you think about this new generation of players, Tomic, Nishikori, Berankis?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I played pretty much all of them, and I think they're all pretty good. I think they're all going to be top 50 players. They all have good games. Everyone has something. They just need to grow up and get their game more consistent.

Q. Some of us know your father, but we don't know your mother. Where is she and what does she do?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: She just helps my sister studying, doing nothing much. Just family.

Q. Where?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: In Kiev. She used to be a gymnast.

Q. You seem very relaxed. Do nerves come into play now?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Not really. I started pretty bad today, but I can't say it was the nerves or something. I just was not in the match. My body wasn't listening to me.

I mean, I'm trying to get used to playing. That's my goal, you know, to be top 20, top 10. You need to beat those kind of players to be there, so...

Of course, sometimes you have nerves. Like on the match points I didn't play too good, but I was too close. So, I mean, that's normal, I think.

Q. You played Andy Murray in the Davis Cup a few years ago. What do you remember about that match?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I remember I was expecting more.

Q. More from you or more from him?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: No, more from him, because he played not too fast. I thought he has a really big pace. I didn't play those kind of players in real life. I just saw it on TV. TV makes it look much faster.

When I came out there, I just realized I'm playing faster, hitting the shots, but I make too much unforced and he was just overplaying me. I wasn't consistent enough to even win a set.

Q. Do you like playing counter punchers like him?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, I mean, you have to play everybody. I just try to do my game and make him struggle with the shots, break some rhythm.

But he's, for sure, a tough player to play.

Q. Do you see similarities between his and your game? The way you talk about his game, it sounds as though you're talking about your own.

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, it's a bit similar. I think he's also trying to play uncomfortable for the player, first of all. For sure he can hit some winners. So it's pretty close game, I think.

Q. What would you say is your best quality as a tennis player, and what as a human person?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Sorry. I don't really understand the question.

Q. What is the best quality of yours as a tennis player? Outside of the tennis court, what is your best quality as a person?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: On the tennis court, probably I play relaxed. You know, I enjoy the tennis. I don't get tight too much. I play really freely. Sometimes it pays off. I have fun. I try to fight every point, do the right things.

Q. In terms of strokes?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Strokes, I try to also do all the strokes, play different shots. I can't say I have a best shot because sometimes I play winners from everywhere, and sometimes I also struggle and you can't really explain it.

One match I serve 15, 20 aces, and today I served 23% in the first set. I'm trying to make my game more consistent.

And off the court, probably I try to be honest with all people.

Q. If you could beat the No. 4 in the world, do you feel confident you can beat the No. 5 in the next round?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, I think every match is different. I'm very happy I won today. But, I mean, the day after tomorrow is going to be like a completely different match.

I need to, you know, forget about this match and go into the next round. I mean, it's a good run, and you can make it even better.

Q. You say you try to be honest. Were you surprised when you got a letter from the Tennis Integrity Unit or not?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I wasn't really surprised because I knew some guys, you know, like Russian guys, they got those letters. They were asked some questions. I wasn't really surprised of that. I just had a few questions to answer, so...

Q. Tipsarevic the other day said that these letters come mostly to the Russian players and eastern European countries and he thinks it's not fair. Do you agree with that?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I don't know. I don't ask the other players do they get them or not. It's really like each player's business what he gets. If it's like that, probably those countries are more poor. Maybe more players are involved in some kind of something. I'm not really informed to comment that.

Q. You've been out here since December 5. Have you been in Adelaide training?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, I've been for like 10 days in Adelaide. Then I came to Melbourne to practice with the Aussie guys playing in the playoffs.

Q. Then Brisbane obviously, and Sydney.

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Then I went to Brisbane a week before the tournament.

Q. Do you think that's helped you, that extra time to get used to surface?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, for sure, because I don't really like the heat. I got used to it more here.

Q. When you're not playing tennis, what do you like to do?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Not really, I don't like to watch sports. I don't even watch TV when I'm off the court. I just like to relax with my friends, drive my car.

Q. Which is what?

ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: A Subaru.


http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2011-01-24/201101241295843547183.html
 
This post has been deleted
#335 ·
Judio, are you sure that Dolgo' mother first name is Elena?

You could find Elena Dolgopolova in Russian language Internet, but of course she (born in 1980) has not any connection to our tennisist (born in 1988). The fact is that Dolgo's father is of Russian origin and Dolgopolov (Dolgopolova for women) is widespread Russian surname and you could find thousands people with such surname. So we need to know the girl name of Dolgo's mother. I've tried to search in Russian and Ukrainian internet, but without success for the present. I guess mother is not very public person now. I'll continue my attempts to find an answer to your question :)
 
#334 ·
For half a year ago I'm impressed with Dolgo's game,but anyone know how is it possible that he has some 80 carrier matches total,while his peers like Djokovic has well over 400 matches? I guess the key word in Dolgo 's carrier is that despite he's over 22,he has no experience on tour. Time to gain confidence.
 
#337 ·
Interview with Alexandr Dolgopolov after his match against Murray AO 26-01-2011

Q. What was the experience like out there in a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam tournament?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: It was a really good match, you know. Andy played really well. I was trying to keep up. I think I was showing a pretty good match. I mean, he was just more solid for me today. He played better.

Q. You play very flamboyant and entertaining tennis, which is terrific. Is consistency something you have to work on?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, for sure. I mean, you always want to get more consistent.
But, you know, today, I mean, just hitting with him on the baseline was just suicidal to lose three easy sets. I had to go for the balls and I think I was playing the right tactic.
When I get better in the physics and I play better, I'll get more of those balls and maybe there will be a tighter match.

Q. Did it give you a feeling of how much you have to make up on the top players?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, for sure. I think I'm playing better tactically in the important moments. But I still need to practice and get better to beat these kind of players more.

Q. You played Rafa a few months ago. How would you see Andy's chances against him?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I don't know. It will be a tough match. They're both really good. They like to play on the baseline. So it's always fun to watch their matches.

Q. Who would you pick?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I don't know actually. It's too tough. I didn't really see Rafa now play much. But they're both good. I think if they play, it will be an interesting match.

Q. What was the difference between beating Soderling and losing to Andy? What did you find more difficult about playing Murray?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: For sure, he's more solid at this day, and he didn't give me much of easy points. You know, I had to take it away myself.
And with Robin, I mean, he made some errors, and I really needed to just stay in the point to win it. It's a bit different game. It was tougher today for me.

Q. Are you amazed at what you've done?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, for sure, I'm really happy that the year started this way. Really happy that I am playing this way. I'm really looking forwards towards the next tournaments. I'm confident now and I think I can do good.

Q. Have you heard from a lot of people like your parents?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, my parents are watching all the time, cheering for me. They're really happy. A lot of my friends as well. So it's really nice.

Q. I think your name used to be Dolgopolov, Jr.
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: That's because my father played tennis and he had the same name. I just took it away because I think it's too long to pronounce (smiling).

Q. When did you get rid of that part?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I think it was somewhere in the summer.

Q. Last summer?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah.

Q. What do you expect about the next tournament in Buenos Aires, especially with another surface?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Well, first I would be really happy to get there because I need to make three visas for every country for one week, so that's pretty tough. Maybe I'll have to miss the first one in Brazil and go Buenos Aires, then Acapulco if I make it.
I'm happy to get on clay court and continue the year.

Q. It would be your first visit to Buenos Aires?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yes, to Buenos Aires it will be the first time.

Q. What part of your game do you think you've improved on during this tournament?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: For sure I'm more consistent, you know. I've changed my tactics to last year. I'm feeling more fit and better physically.
Towards the tournament, I got more confident. You know, changing the things in the first matches that were maybe not going well. Played really well, I think.

Q. At one stage during the match you looked up to the coach's box, and your coach wasn't there.
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, he went to the toilet, he told me. They were giving him a hard time getting back because they were saying, You don't have a box pass. He's like, Look, it's coach Dolgopolov. Yeah, he wasn't there for a few games.

Q. Is that disconcerting when you look up for a bit of inspiration from a coach and he's not there?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Not really. You just look up to see someone like cheer for you, and it makes you feel better. But if he's not there, he went somewhere for his business. I mean, it's not like a tragedy or anything.

Q. You showed a lot of good sportsmanship when you were beaten by great shots. Is that how you always respond, in that way?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: He overplayed me a lot of times, my good shots. So what can you do?

Q. There was one shot, an overhead, and Murray played it down the line. Maybe one of the shots of the tournament.
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, he just went for it because, I mean, my overhead was disgusting actually. You know, it was pretty tough. I missed a lot of today easy balls next to the net because I was trying to hit them without a bounce, the overheads. The ball was coming out from the roof to the right side. I missed a few. He missed one overhead as well. He did a lot of good shots.

Q. Is he smart as a tennis player?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: Yeah, for sure, he's one of the smartest players. He tries to break your game. He plays really smart tactically. He doesn't give away a lot. You need to make him do the mistakes.

Q. You told us before the match that you like to drive, that you drive a Subaru. With your winnings, does this mean a new car?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: No, I'm still with the Subaru. I like it. I enjoy it.

Q. A few players have said the courts have been slower in the last two days because it's been colder. Did you find it that way?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I don't know if it's from the cold. I felt it really with Robin, playing on center court, that it's much slower. I don't know if that's the weather or the arena also.
But it was slower on the arena for me, tougher to make winners.

Q. The third set you played some amazing tennis, then Andy got a jump on you in the fourth set. Did it take you by surprise or were you a bit let down after the third set?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: I think maybe I lost a bit of concentration because he was making me move a lot more than my other opponents. I was covering too much court today. That makes you lose sometimes like a few games, you just lose concentration. He played really well, made a few winners. He made the ball like really deep.
I just went back, tried to come back, but it was like two breaks. Too tough.

Q. What do you take away from this tournament?
ALEXANDR DOLGOPOLOV: First of all confidence, that I can play with these players. I'm really happy that, you know, I got some goals together. I had a goal to do the second week. I'm happy I could do it, even though it was with pretty strong guys.
Yeah, mostly that and a lot of game experience.

Source: http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2011-01-26/201101261296028917298.html
 
#343 ·
Dolgo is playing in Brazil this week where he is the 4th seed. He has a bye in the 1st round before he play either wildcard Romboli or RRH in the second round. His potential QF opponent is Starace. Hopefully he doesn't have a post AO hangover and can put in a good performance here.
 
#346 ·
Good article on Dolgo from Deuce Magazine:

As a child, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and Andrei Medvedev were his play mates. So for Alexandr Dolgopolov Jr., it was always going to be a natural progression to the ATP World Tour.

There is something about Alexandr Dolgopolov Jr. Maybe it is the way his blond pony tail flops as he bounces around the court like the Energizer Bunny. Or could it be his balls? He can hit them early or late, big and hard, fast with spin or off-pace with slice. Dolgopolov plays with a sly, cheeky smile that seems to say ‘catch me if you can’. And the way he jerks his opponents about the court is almost like he is giving them the middle finger.

"Sascha was always travelling with his father and Andrei. So, he was used to being around the top players all the time."Without a doubt, Dolgopolov’s style is not for the tennis purist. This 22 year old from the Ukraine is definitely new school. His look and game could have very well been created by an Xbox engineer; serve powered by a hard drive add-on and groundstrokes fired by two analog triggers. All said, he is fast-paced and fun to watch. Plus, the players have given him a great nickname, the 'Dog'. Whether he is called that because his family name is hard to pronounce, or because he plays like a dog, nobody knows for sure. One thing that is certain, this kid has star power.

Some players are easy to define; baseliners, all-court, serve and volley. Not the 'Dog'. His tennis would fall under a different category, something like Slash and Burn. Or on an off day, Crash and Burn. If Dolgopolov’s tennis could talk, it might say to an opposing player, “what have you done lately?” And there is that little matter of his shot selection. At first glance it seems insane.

“Normally it depends how comfortable I am feeling in the match,” explains Dolgopolov. “I try to play unpredictable, and make my opponents uncomfortable.”

Even Andy Roddick commented on it after their match in Brisbane.

"I knew that he was aggressive to the point of psychosis," Roddick said to much laughter in a post match press conference.

Dolgopolov rarely gets excited about his great shots. He does not beat his chest, pump his fist, or scream out loud. At best you might catch him toss a wink up at his coach. Or acknowledge the applause of the crowd with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. The "Dog" is cool. The James Bond type of cool.

We should have seen him coming. The signs were there all last year. Three set losses to Radek Stepanek, Richard Gasquet and Tomas Berdych. And a five-set thriller which he lost 10-8 to Tsonga at Wimbledon. Then there were wins over Mardy Fish, Fernando Gonzalez, Mikhail Youzhny and Nicolas Almagro. But it was a straight sets loss to Rafael Nadal in Madrid that made the boys in the locker room sit-up straight and pay attention. Dolgopolov did not just play Nadal, but he appeared to tease him. Playing up on the baseline, he went toe-to-toe with Rafa whacking the 'Raging Bull' with inside-out forehands and taunting him with countless drop shots and lobs. For a couple of hours, it looked like Rafa was being controlled by a joystick and not by a 21 year old who's highest ranking to date was World No. 62.

You could say that Alexandr Jr. was born to play tennis. His father, Oleksandr Dolgopolov Sr. (note spelling change at the request of the son) was an excellent player himself on the Soviet national team and then went on to coach Andrei Medvedev to stardom. His mother, Elena, was a medal winning gymnast. Alexandr Jr., called Sascha by his family and close friends, spent more time on the court than in the cradle. At the age of three, the player's lounge on the ATP World Tour was his living room.

“I spent almost one year training under his (Alexandr's) father,” says Max Mirnyi. “His father was a very strict coach, extremely disciplined. And he made sure to teach all the strokes and shots of tennis. Sascha was always on the courts dragging the racquet behind him running after balls. He began to develop at a very young age.”

"If Dolgopolov's father is a clean cut ... then coach Jack Reader is a love-life bohemian."“Sascha was always travelling with his father and Andrei (Medvedev),” says Orest Tereshchuk, Ukraine’s Davis Cup captain. “So, he was used to being around the top players all the time. And I don’t think he is or has ever been shy of them. He is very comfortable at the top of the game.”

If father wanted son to follow the rules and regulations of a strict training regime, he was in for a spot of trouble. Not only did Alexandr Jr. not want to think inside of the box, but he wanted to be nowhere near it.

“My father is the type of coach that knows very much about tennis,” says Dolgopolov. “He can see how every player should play to get to his maximum potential. He likes results, not effort or anything else. And he does everything he can so results are positive. And he is very disciplined.”

'The Dog' did not want any part of that leash, so he broke free and went it alone. And then along came Jack.

If Dolgopolov’s father is a clean cut, shirt tucked in, strict disciplinarian carrying a stopwatch and a jump rope, then coach Jack Reader is a love-life bohemian with waves of unruly brown hair travelling with a carton of cigarettes and a case of beer. Upon meeting Jack you could almost hear Olexsandr Sr. shout, “Oh my God!”

Talk about chalk and cheese.

It seems everybody loves Reader. Check out his Facebook page after Dolgopolov’s great run at the Australian Open and there are well wishes and congratulations in Italian, German, Russian, English and Australian. On the ATP World Tour, Reader can be found after work at the pub nearest the official hotel where you can bet that he is already on a friendly first name basis with everyone from the janitor to the bar maid to the bum on the street.

"Never a dull moment with those two."So just how did Jack hook up with the 'Dog'? In a strange twist of irony, it began before Dolgopolov was even borne. Twenty-five years ago, Reader left Australia and moved to Europe where he played the pro circuit and club tennis in Germany and Italy. Those that knew Jack back then said he played his tennis matches with one hand on his racquet and the other hand on the ladies. But Reader’s time in Italy gave him more than just the dolce vita, he also formed a relationship with Corrado Tschabuschnig, who would go on to form Topseed Management Company and would many years later become Dolgopolov’s agent.

“In 2005, Jack tells me about this kid with amazing talent,” says Tschabuschnig. “It was a junior named Dolgopolov. It was not long until we signed him. Then in 2009, Dolgopolov split with his father and needed someone. Immediately, I thought of Jack.”

If you thought that Reader is all fun and games, you would be mistaken, super social and self-deprecating yes, careless no. Like a horse whisperer who is trying to soothe a wild mustang, Reader found that in order to get his young charge on track he needed to listen first.

“Jack is very smart as a coach,” claims Dolgopolov. “He is someone who respects your point of view, even though he has his own. He is very communicative, but when we talk tennis he prefers to talk less and listen more. But when he says something it is the right stuff.”

While many coaches attempt to stamp their influence on players right away, Reader took his time and used a ‘players don’t care what you know, unless that they know that you care’ approach. Instantly the two men clicked. The ATP World Tour was about to become “Jack and Sascha’s Excellent Adventure”.

At l'Aéroport Nice Côte d'Azur, France, Jack and Sascha are at the check-in counter waiting for their boarding passes for the flight to Paris. The airline agent stares at Jack and then at Dolgopolov, and back again. Then after consulting with a colleague, he asks them if they have proof that they are a couple. Jack flashes a big sheepish smile, Dolgopolov cringes. The story goes that in an effort to save money on airfare, Reader found a special two-for-one promotional fare on the internet. Just one catch, it was for gay couples only.

“Never a dull moment with those two,” laughs Mirnyi, who witnessed the entire scene.

Jack and Dolgopolov have become much more than just coach and player. They even continue to share a room on the tour.

"He can do practically everything with the ball. His game is very rich. He has many ways to win the point and he is not afraid to go for it."“There are often a few minutes here and there when we can talk about his matches, or such,” says Reader. “We don’t have big sit down long talks, but rather we communicate bit-by-bit throughout the day. I like being with Sascha. He is a good kid. A real good kid.”

It is the middle of nowhere between Kiev and Moscow and Jack and Alexandr are lost. Instead of flying to Moscow they decided to drive. It should’ve only taken somewhere between twelve to fifteen hours to get there.

“We thought it would be a good chance to slow down a bit,” says Reader. “Talk about things; you know, things about life and not just tennis. And see the country side.”

Well, they certainly got what they wished for. While Dolgopolov has tricked out his Subaru SUV with the latest toys, with Reader sharing the driving a GPS might have been a good idea. Eventually, they made it in time for the President’s Cup.

As last year was ending and this year about to begin, Reader invited Dolgopolov to where else? The beach. In order to get acclimatized to the intense heat of Australia, Dolgopolov cut his holidays in the Ukraine short and travelled to Brisbane. There was plenty of fishing, swimming and surfing, and oh yes, some tennis. As Jack continued to put Alexandr the person first, and the tennis player second, there was a method to his supposed madness. Get Dolgopolov healthy and happy.

“He battled injuries for much of the last two years,” says Reader. “Not big ones, mind you, but little niggles that were constantly interrupting him. And when Sascha is happy and excited to go out and play, then he can do some amazing things on the court.”

"I am so proud of my son. I don’t have enough words to express the joy of how I feel."Robin Soderling would soon find out in the round of sixteen at the Australian Open. In a match that looked more like a drive-by shooting than a game played by gentlemen, Dolgopolov frustrated the World No. 4 with a barrage of quick strike serves and ballistic forehands. But it was that other stroke that irritated Soderling the most. Technically it is called a slice backhand, but it looks more like something a Sensei would teach in a martial arts class. Aesthetically pleasing no, incredibly effective, yes.

“He can do practically everything with the ball,” says Claudio Pistolesi, Soderling’s coach. “His game is very rich. He has many ways to win the point and he is not afraid to go for it. He has amazing acceleration. He plays very fast and it can be uncomfortable to play against him. Jack (Reader) brought so much to his game, taught him how to mix it up more. But also Jack provided stability. That is easy to say, but tough to do. He (Reader) showed a lot of patience with him.”

“I am not surprised by his performance at the Australian Open,” claims Tereshchuk. “Having seen him play so much over the years, I know what he is capable of doing on a tennis court. He is a very special player.”

It has been nearly 20 years since Olexsandr Sr. looked on proudly as his little Sascha played with the world’s best players while entertaining everyone who passed by. Now it is happening all over again.

“I am so proud of my son,” says Olexsandr Sr. overcome with emotion over the telephone from Kiev. “I don’t have enough words to express the joy of how I feel.”

Of all the things that Dolgopolov’s father gave his son over the years, maybe it was the freedom to let Alexandr Jr. go out on his own that was the greatest gift of all. For he can rest assured that Reader will watch his son’s back, and that all those lessons that he tried to instill in his son were not in vain nor forgotten.
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-Australian-Open-2011/Alexandr-Dolgopolov.aspx
 
#348 ·
didnt know who he wasnt until the soderling match at the AO this year...great mover, love his shots and cant wait to see him play again...I call him the "baby federer" as he moves like my fed....hope he wins today at the brazil open but at least he got to his first final..yay and go alex...


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