Alexandr Dolgopolov, a 28-year-old from Ukraine ranked No. 64 in the world, will take on the No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal in the fourth round Monday afternoon to close out the day session in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Here are five things to know about Dolgopolov, Ukraine's top player:
- Dolgopolov has a 2-6 career record against Nadal, with his most recent win coming in Queen's Club in 2015. His recent success has given him plenty of confidence going in. "I'm not a young player anymore," he said. "I don't think I'm going to get intimidated by the No. 1 player or the stadium or the occasion. Game-wise, I'll have a plan. Hopefully I can execute it and give him problems."
- Dolgopolov's best Grand Slam event came at the the 2011 Australian Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. Later that year, he reached the fourth round at the US Open, helping him to a career-high ranking of No. 13 in the world in January 2012.
- Dolgopolov has Gilbert's Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the liver and can cause extreme fatigue. He was originally diagnosed with the condition when he was 12 and, at at first, his doctor thought he shouldn't play sports. “Now and then, it just hits me and I have to go to the hospital for a week or two," Dolgopolov said in 2014. "It’s something I’ve had to live with.”
- Dolgopolov is known for his unique, unpredictable style, not only mixing spins and pace but also going for winners from all parts of the court. “Aggressive to the point of psychosis,” is how Andy Roddick once described it. His aggressive style is in part an attempt to end points quickly to minimize the effects Gilbert's Syndrome. An old coach, Jack Reader, once commented, “If Alex tried to play a regular solid game of just rallying and wearing someone down, he wouldn’t get too far."
- Alexandr's father, Aleksandr Sr., is a former professional tennis player from Ukraine who played Davis Cup for both the Soviet Union and the Ukraine. Dolgopolov's father went on to coach Andrei Medvedev on the pro tour, bringing Alexandr on the tour with him. As a result, as a kid, Alexandr met some of the game's top players at the time, including Andre Agassi and Boris Becker.
