US Open Dolgopolov écarte Gil

Créé le 29/08/2011 - 19:13

Première pour Alexandr Dolgolopov. Le jeune Ukrainien, quart de finaliste en début d'année à l'Open d'Australie, n'avait jamais dépassé le premier tour à l'US Open. C'est chose faite avec cette victoire tranquille en trois manches contre Frederico Gil (6-4, 6-2, 7-5). Tête de série n°22 à Flushing Meadows, Dolgopolov affrontera l'Italien Flavio Cipolla au 2e tour, avant de croiser éventuellement la route de Richard Gasquet.

www.sports.fr

US Open (H) - Dolgopolov en huitièmes

Le 03/09/2011 à 23:04

L'Ukrainien Alexandr Dolgopolov s'est qualifié samedi pour les huitièmes de finale aux dépens du Croate Ivo Karlovic en quatre manches (6-7[4], 6-2, 6-4, 6-4). Il jouera désormais sa place en quarts de finale contre le vainqueur de la rencontre opposant Novak Djokovic à Nikolay Davydenko.

www.lequipe.fr

Metz 2011: Dolgopolov se défait de Baghdatis

Mercredi 21 Septembre 2011, 20:35

Direction les quarts de finale pour Alexandr Dolgopolov à Metz (Dur, Intérieur, France). L'Ukrainien, tête de série n°3, a disposé sur le score de 6/7, 7/5, 6/3 du Chypriote Marcos Baghdatis sur les courts des Arènes de Metz. Dolgopolov tentera donc de se hisser en demi-finales et il affrontera, dans cette optique, le gagnant du match entre Igor Kunitsyn et Xavier Malisse.

www.TennisTemple.com

Metz - Dolgopolov rejoint Tsonga

Le 23/09/2011 à 21:28

L'abandon de Xavier Malisse face à Alexandr Dolgopolov, vendredi en quarts de finale, a permis à l'Ukrainien de décrocher son billet pour le dernier carré. Le Belge était mené (6-3, 1-0). Dolgopolov, 20e mondial, reste sur deux victoires face à Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, qu'il retrouvera en demie

www.lequipe.fr

Dolgopolov, l’an I

publié le 21/09/2011 à 05:00

Original, talentueux et sûr de lui. A vingt-deux ans, l’Ukrainien Alexandr Dolgopolov a tout pour s’imposer comme un crack du circuit. Opération découverte.


Chien fou en 2006, il est un sérieux client en 2011. L’Ukrainien Alexandr Dolgopolov vit actuellement la meilleure saison de sa carrière. Photo Pascal BROCARD

Au début, on l’avait catalogué comme un joueur de terre battue. A tort. Parce qu’Alexandr Dolgopolov, né aux yeux du monde du tennis un beau matin de 2011 du côté de Melbourne, utilise l’art du contre-pied comme personne. Toujours là où on ne l’attend pas. Au point que certains lui prédisent un avenir doré, sur le trône du classement ATP. A l’ère des Federer, Nadal et Djokovic, ça pourrait sembler fou. Sauf quand on connaît son histoire.

Dolgopolov, dans le microcosme de l’élite mondiale, a toujours semblé faire partie des murs. Avec un père entraîneur de Medvedev, l’ancien finaliste de Roland-Garros, des tournois et des voyages sur tous les continents, il a grandi au milieu des meilleurs, tapant même la balle avec Boris Becker ou André Agassi. Côté jardin, sa bonne humeur et son excentricité ont fait parler de lui depuis longtemps. Côté court, son talent s’est, enfin, décidé à finir le travail. Technique atypique, slice dévastateur et relâchement total, le numéro 20 mondial (le meilleur rang de sa carrière) n’est pas arrivé, lundi, en terrain inconnu au Moselle Open. En 2006, déjà, il avait disputé les qualifications. Alors -30, Julien Mathieu avait été le premier à tomber face à cet extra-terrestre. « Il faisait n’importe quoi, était un peu chien fou à l’époque, se souvient le Messin. Mais aujourd’hui, il a un jeu plus structuré. Bon, bien sûr, des fois, il peut encore faire n’importe quoi. Quand il mène 5-1, 40-0... C’est beaucoup moins grave. » Mais s’il y a une chose en quoi Mathieu a du mal à croire, c’est la capacité de Dolgopolov à devenir numéro 1 mondial. « Top 10, pourquoi pas. Mais physiquement, il est trop juste pour tenir une saison de terre battue au même rythme que Nadal, Djokovic ou Federer. »

Un excellent bilan

Au Moselle Open en revanche, « The Dog », comme il est surnommé par ses pairs, a de quoi justifier ses crocs acérés. D’abord, parce qu’il joue la meilleure saison de sa vie. « C’est, en effet, une très bonne saison. J’ai fait quart de finale à l’Open d’Australie. J’ai également gagné mon premier titre, en juillet à Umag. » Aussi, parce qu’il est tête de série numéro 3, et que face à Tsonga, le grand favori de l’épreuve, il présente un excellent bilan. « Tsonga ? Oui, je le connais bien, je l’ai battu deux fois cette année, lâche-t-il, dans un sourire. Mais nous sommes en France… »

Enfin, puisqu’il a été l’un des très rares, avec Roger Federer et Rafael Nadal, à avoir fait douter le numéro 1 mondial Novak Djokovic lors du dernier US Open, Alexandr Dolgopolov peut se permettre de s’asseoir à côté de Gasquet, Ljubicic et Tsonga, les trois favoris de ce Moselle Open. Il y sera à sa place, enfin.
Michaël PERRET.

Source

Shanghai: Dolgopolov-Ramos au 2e tour

Alexandr Dolgopolov est venu à bout de Lukasz Kubot mardi en deux sets (6-4, 7-6 [6]), à l'occasion du 1er tour du Masters 1 000 de Shanghai. L'Ukrainien affrontera Albert Ramos au 2e tour, puisque l'Espagnol a créé une petite surprise en s'imposant face à Marin Cilic (6-3, 6-4).

Créé le 11/10/2011 - 11:40
www.sports.fr

Shanghai: Dolgopolov rejoint Tomic

Alexandr Dolgopolov a franchi ce mercredi le deuxième tour du Masters 1000 de Shanghai. L'Ukrainien, tête de série n°12, s'est imposé en trois manches face à l'Espagnol Albert Ramos (5-7, 6-3, 6-2). Il affrontera en huitièmes de finale Bernard Tomic, tombeur la veille de Mardy Fish.

Créé le 12/10/2011 - 09:14
www.sports.fr

Dolgopolov déjà dehors

24/10 13h49 - Tennis, St-Pétersbourg

Tête de série n°3 à Saint-Pétersbourg, l’Ukrainien Alexandr Dolgopolov s’est incliné d’entrée devant l’Israélien Dudi Sela (6/2 6/2). 15e à la Race, il n’a quasiment plus aucune chance de disputer le Masters de Londres.

www.sport24.com

ATP World Tour Uncovered - Alexandr Dolgopolov
(ATPWorldTour)

In season 3, episode 39, ATP World Tour Uncovered profiles Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, who has reached new heights in 2011 with the help of coach Jack Reader.

Dolgo's back

7 Dec 11 @ 01:48pm by MATT TURNER


RETURN: Tennis coach Jack Reader is back in Adelaide, having guided his protege Alexandr Dolgopolov from No. 48 in the world to No. 16 in the past 12 months.

HIS first full-time year on the international tennis circuit with protege Alexandr Dolgopolov was somewhat of a whirlwind.

Now Warradale Park tennis coach Jack Reader is back home in Adelaide spending time with family, visiting his local club, and on the beach, as he prepares Dolgopolov’s assault on the 2012 season.

Dolgopolov, an enigmatic 23-year-old Ukrainian right-hander, climbed 32 spots this year under Reader’s tutelage, to finish the season ranked a career-high No. 16 in the men’s game.

He went on a giant-killing run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, only to fall ill a few months later and battle pancreatitis for part of the season.

Reader, who began mentoring Dolgopolov full-time in 2009, was pleased overall with the year and said he had enjoyed being back home.

“If someone had said to me Alex will be 16 at the end of the year, I’d say yep, I’d take it,” Reader said.

“We’ve had a long year travelling and I haven’t been back since February 4.

“I love going back (to Warradale Park). I think I was there for 10 years. It’s good fun going there.”

Reader planned to take Dolgopolov to a court south of the city sometime this week, such as at South Port, so he could mingle with local juniors.

Despite bringing a practice partner, close friend Dima Brichek, from the Ukraine, Dolgopolov is unlikely to have another one-off match Warradale Park in the Glenelg District Tennis Association this year. Last December he played a tight match against local Yuri Bezeruk.

“It’d be good to have a ‘Dolgo day’ so kids could come see Alex and he could see some kids that play tennis for fun and are out there just for a smile on their face,” Reader said.

“We all start at this game because we’re chasing around a yellow ball seeing if we can hit it one more time than the other guy.”

Last fortnight, shortly after he returned from 10 months overseas Reader was in Goolwa, enjoying a “boys trip” with his own father and 18-year-old son Mike.

Dolgopolov arrived in Adelaide last Thursday night and headed to music festival Stereosonic on Saturday with Reader. This week, the pair was set to return to the beaches of the Fleurieu Peninsula for training.

ity-messenger.whereilive.com.au

Big four firmly in Alexandr's sights

December 06, 2011 12:00AM


World No.16 Alexandr Dolgopolov takes a break from training at Memorial Drive. Picture: Simon Cross.

WORLD No. 16 Alexandr Dolgopolov says the gap between the ATP's big four and the rest is as big as ever.

He says it's up to the pack to do the chasing rather than wait for them to fall.

And he's warned against being fooled by world No. 2 Rafael Nadal's successive losses at the World Tour finals last month which prompted him to concede his passion for the game was on the wane.

The big-hitting Ukrainian has started his pre-season training in Adelaide in a bid to tackle the "big four": Novak Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray next year.

"People are overrating those guys' losses," he said.

"You don't see them losing much to other players except to those four, they're still the top four for the majors and it's extremely tough to beat them.

"For me, I have the game, I just need the mental strength and my physical strength to get up to the level to play them. But surely I have the game and the shots."

Dolgopolov reached the quarter finals of this year's Australian Open and went on to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga twice, David Ferrer and Robin Soderling.

The win against Soderling was his breakthrough victory and set the foundation for his impressive year.

He suffered losses to Nadal, Djokovic, and Andy Roddick and took the first set against Murray in the Australian Open quarter-finals before falling in four sets.

He said the aim this summer was for continual improvement rather than focusing solely on claiming a top-four scalp.

"I wouldn't say to beat them (is a goal) but if you want to get top 10 or close to top five, you have to beat those guys," he said.

"That's the next level to try to get close to ... Sometimes they have their bad days but are still really tough to play."

Dolgopolov and his Adelaide-based coach, Jack Reader, left for the Fleurieu Peninsula yesterday to start his Australian Open preparation in earnest.

The pair plan three "Dolg days" where locals are encouraged to attend opening training sessions and meet the emerging star.

The first is at Southern Tennis Association headquarters, River Rd, Port Noarlunga on Thursday.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au

Tennis ace in town

8 Dec 11 @ 12:11pm by Matt Turner


ON SHOW: World number 16 tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov, pictured with his coach Jack Reader, will hold an open training session in Port Noarlunga tonight. Pic: Cathy Mundy.

TENNIS fans have the chance to rub shoulders with a world top-20 player in Port Noarlunga this evening (December 8 ).

Ukrainian ace Alexandr Dolgopolov, ranked No. 16 in the men’s game, is holding an open training session at Southern Tennis Association (STA) headquarters, on Britain Drive, from 5pm.

The 23-year-old right-hander is in town to prepare for the 2012 season, including January’s Australian Open, with Adelaide-based coach Jack Reader.

The pair is staying in Port Noarlunga this week so Reader can put Dolgopolov through his paces on local beaches, stairs and at the mouth of the Onkaparinga River.

Dolgopolov will practise on court for at least an hour - as long as it does not rain - before signing autographs and answering questions from local youngsters.

Reader, who spent about 12 years as a coach at Warradale Park Tennis Club before linking up with “Dolgo” in 2009, said he wanted his charge to remember why he took up the sport.

“I want to bring him down a little,” Reader said.

“He travels all the time and so he’s living in a different world.

“I’m trying to remind him what tennis is all about and that he was a young kid once.

“This is why you start playing, to chase a little yellow ball around the court.

“We’ll be doing some warm-ups on court and practising so the kids can watch and feel part of it.”

STA president Graham Wilson said Dolgopolov’s visit would help to boost the sport’s profile in the area and hoped about 200 people would attend.

“This bit of exposure is fantastic for our local tennis,” Mr Wilson said.

“It helps us to attract younger children into our (Tennis Australia) Hot Shots program, which we’ll have an intake for early in January.

“That’s a structured program that introduces kids from five years of age to tennis.”

The STA will open its canteen and have a barbecue while Dolgopolov is training.

http://guardian-messenger.whereilive.com.au

Gilles Simon, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Tommy Haas join Brisbane International

December 02, 2011 9:48AM

THREE more men ranked 20th or higher will join world No.3 Andy Murray at the Brisbane International.

Frenchman Gilles Simon, ranked 12th, Ukranian world No.16 Alexandr Dolgopolov and Tommy Haas of Germany, who has a protected ranking of No.20, have been confirmed as starters.

Fan favourites James Blake and Marcos Baghdatis will also play the event starting on New Year's Day, along with inaugural champion Radek Stepanek, Spain's Tommy Robredo and Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

Rising Gold Coast star Bernard Tomic (No.41) is joined in the draw by the only other teenager in the Top 100, American Ryan Sweeting (No.73).

The men's field is considerably weaker than the women's, which boasts nine of the top 20 players in the world.

An already stellar field including Sam Stosur, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters, will also feature 2011 Brisbane finalist Andrea Petkovic and 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.

Former No.1 Jelena Jankovic, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Dominika Cibulkova join Ana Ivanovic in the line-up.

Tournament director Cameron Pearson said: "We have attracted another world-class field. Between them they have won 23 Grand Slam titles."

http://www.couriermail.com.au

Adelaide coach to train Ukrainian tennis prodigy Alexandr Dolgopolov

December 01, 2011 12:00AM


Coach Jack Reader wants his world No. 16 player Alexandr Dolgopolov to step up his fitness this year.Picture: Dean Martin

THE Adelaide tennis coach in charge of world No. 16 Alexandr Dolgopolov is doing his own mini pre-season.

Jack Reader and Dolgopolov's "sparring partner" Dima Brichek have been training at Warradale Park, where Dolgopolov will prepare for January's Australian Open.

Team Dolgopolov will also train along SA's Fleurieu Peninsula with rock-hopping, beach running and bodysurfing.

"I'm doing a pre-pre-season to get me and Dima fitter because Alex arrives next week," Reader said. "So we'll be fit as fiddles and ready to kick him.

"I always made a joke with Alex that I don't hit tennis unless I hit with a top-20 player.

"Now he's a top-20 player so I've got to get in shape."

Dolgopolov cracked the top 20 after reaching the semi-finals of the Moselle Open in France in September. But Reader said a year that started with so much promise after his 23-year-old star beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Robin Soderling to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open could have been better. Dolgopolov battled illness and his next best Grand Slam result was the fourth round of the US Open.

"It's funny because if I look back I don't think he had such a great year but his ranking - well, I'd have taken that," Reader said.

"I'd have paid for that at the beginning of the year, so we've got to be happy."

Dolgopolov was ranked outside the top 300 in the world when he teamed with Reader full-time in 2009.

And his dramatic rise is expected to continue, providing his fitness improves first.

"This year he's going to be the healthiest he's been and a lot stronger than when we started, so we can step it up a notch," Reader said. "We're going to get his fitness up a heck of a lot more. With five sets at the opens he was fit enough to play most people, but not the top few. When you're fitter and moving better, then obviously you'll hit the ball better."

However, Reader said the gap between the big three - Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal - and the rest was closing.

"It's a pretty big drop, but guys are filling it in slowly," he said. "You've got guys like (David) Ferrer who works so hard, (Thomas) Berdych, (Mardy) Fish is a surprise. Jo (-Wilfried Tsonga) will get back and start competing and a lot of guys are seeing the top guys get beaten and it gives you more confidence."

Adelaide tennis fans will see Dolgopolov in action at the World Tennis Challenge from January 10-12, where he will combine with Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter for Team Australasia.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au

Top five emerging tennis players to watch out for in 2012

06-Dec-2011 13:47



After the end of another action-packed, thrilling and a bit excruciating season, let's take a look at top five emerging tennis players, who has it all claim their share of glory and to be the next big things in a highly competitive world of tennis.

The last decade witnessed the emergence and consequent dominance of Roger Federer, which was later on challenged by resilient Nadal. When Rafa-Roger rivalry reached the zenith, Novak Djokovic hogged a bit of limelight by producing some starting results and the year 2011 saw the culmination of his surge that made him undisputed No. 1 for the season. Before the onset of new season, let’s take a look at the top 5 emerging tennis players, who are loaded with immense talent and have it all to cause a few big upsets in 2012. Of course, they can move a step or two to claim the titles.

1. Alexandr Dolgopolov: The first contender on our list is World No. 15 Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, who is currently enjoying his highest ranking in ATP. The twenty-three years old Ukrainian grew under the guidance of his father, Oleksandar, who was a former ATP pro and coached him from a young age until 2008. Dolgopolov is known for his unconventional shots and swiftness on court. He started the year ranked as World No. 48 and finished as quarterfinalist in Sydney, followed it up by quarterfinal finish at Aussie Open, where he pushed Andy Murray to four-sets. In February, Dolgopolov made it to his maiden ATP World Tour final at Costa do Sauipe, where he lost to Almagro. The Ukrainian continued his good-run with semi-final appearance at Acapulco before felling in the third-round at Roland Garros. After suffering due to a dwindling form at European grass-court swing, Dologopolov did relatively well on the US hard-court swing as he reached the quarter-final in Winston-Salem and finished in the 4th round of the US Open, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. Dolgopolov has improved a lot over a last couple of years and the way he has played in 2011, we can expect some great results from him in 2012.

2. Milos Raonic
3. Kei Nishikori
4. Bernard Tomic
5. Ryan Harrison
[...]

http://www.tennisearth.com

Ambitious odd couple Alexandr Dolgopolov and Jack Reader court top 10 ranking

December 20, 2011 12:00AM



TENNIS's odd couple - Alexandr Dolgopolov and Jack Reader - have returned to the scene of its greatest grand slam triumph, intent on stealing a preparation march on Australian Open rivals.

Ukraine stylist Dolgopolov and his coach, South Australian Reader, ventured on to Margaret Court Arena yesterday, adding another layer to a preparation which started in Adelaide almost three weeks ago.

Ranked 15th in the world after an excellent - and eventful - breakout season, Dolgopolov wants to at least match his 2011 Melbourne Park haul of reaching the quarter-finals.

The right-hander is among the first of the leading internationals to arrive in Melbourne to train for the Australian summer circuit.

French Open winner and former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic and Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli are also among the early wave.

Dolgopolov practised yesterday with vastly improved Victorian Marinko Matosevic, hopeful of building on the foundation stones of 2011.

"It's really nice to back," he said. "I have a lot of memories from this year. "I started the year pretty much here with that result and I'm hoping I can make something good next year."

Dolgopolov holidayed in Tahiti with girlfriend Vika before going to Adelaide.

"We trained south of Adelaide on the beaches there, in the sandhills," he said.

He has already outlined an ambition to qualify for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, but his primary aim is to be healthy.

"Top 10 would be the goal but, pretty much, the main one is to be healthy," he said.

"Then to go as far as I can get. I'm working, I think I got better this year."

Reader, the unconventional Kiwi-born mentor who has played a big role in Dolgopolov's steady rise, believes his charge is well primed to attain a single-digit ranking.

Dolgopolov started the season ranked 48th, slashing the mark with a quarter-final run in Sydney and then franking the form with stunning wins over world No.13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sweden's world No.5 Robin Soderling at the Open.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au

Tomic, Dolgopolov eying Top 10 Rankings in 2012

21-Dec-2011 07:26

Two rising ATP stars Bernard Tomic and Alexandr Dolgopolov are pumped up ahead of the next season. They are also hoping to crack into top 10 in 2012.

ATP’s rising stars Bernard Tomic of Australia and Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine are hoping to crack into the top 10 in the next season. While interacting with reporters Tomic quoted, "I would love to be in the top 10 by my next birthday. If not, I am looking to be in the top 20. It will be a hard task but I have done well this year. I did not think I would be where I am — anything is possible I have a lot of tournaments where I can get points in the next six months."

The Australian further added that his compatriot Samantha Stosur inspires him. Stosur claimed the U.S. Open this year. Tomic asserted, "Stosur motivates us a lot. I look at it and say I want to win a Grand Slam like her. That will always be with her that title, and maybe in the future I can win tournaments like that."

On the other hand, currently ranked as World No. 15 Alexandr Dolgopolov said, “Top 10 would be the goal but, pretty much, the main one is to be healthy. He further added that "Then to go as far as I can get. I'm working; I think I got better this year."

www.tennisearth.com

New tennis star full of surprises

December 14, 2011 12:00AM

RISING Ukrainian star Alexandr Dolgopolov has been earmarked as the one to watch in January's World Tennis Challenge at Memorial Drive.

Set to team up with dual US Open winner Pat Rafter as an honorary Aussie, Dolgopolov looms as the tournament's X-factor when he clashes with veteran American James Blake, Swiss star Stan Wawrinka and Frenchman Michael Llodra.

"Dolgopolov is going to be the most charismatic out there," WTC co-director Roger Rasheed declared. "And he has got the bigger game out of the four there. He's got a whole load of different facets to his game and he's quite unique as a tennis player. So he's probably going to be the toughest player to counteract over the three nights."

Dolgopolov, coached by Adelaide's Jack Reader, also has plenty of weapons in his kit bag, giving fans plenty of reason to see him in the flesh.

"He's quite flamboyant as a person," said Rasheed, who coached Lleyton Hewitt. He obviously liked as a young kid to go for his shots and he would have hit a lot of winners while he grew up. Now he plays like there's no rhyme or reason to him, which can make it difficult for the opposition because you can't read the way he plays. That will make him quite entertaining for the fans."

Rasheed stopped short of declaring Dolgopolov could match his quarter-final finish in this year's Australian Open, but he said the WTC's three-set format would suit the 23-year-old in the lead-up to the first Grand Slam tournament of 2012.

"Three-set tennis is best for him because when you are a bit loose and go up and down through five sets, the opposition has got time to work through you," Rasheed said. "But he's definitely a threat of causing upsets because of the style that he plays. No doubt the rest of the field, when they check out who is in their section, will take a look at where he is positioned."

Expect Blake and Wawrinka to give Dolgopolov plenty of opposition in the singles, while doubles specialist Llodra could be a handful when four players are on court.

"Blake's a guy who has been in the top 10 and, while he is at the back end of his career, he is so talented and gifted," Rasheed said. "Stan is a very steady, consistent player, which allowed him to make the quarter-finals of the Australian Open this year."

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au

Ukrainian ace feeling at home in Adelaide

Wednesday 7 December 2011



WORLD Tennis Challenge organisers hope Ukrainian tennis star Alexandr Dolgopolov will become an honorary Aussie after teaming with dual US Open champion Pat Rafter in Adelaide next month.

Coached by Adelaide’s Jack Reader, the world No. 16 has started his pre-season training in SA in the lead-up to January’s Australian Open. But before that he’ll play the WTC at Memorial Drive from January 10-12 for Team Australasia with Australia’s Davis Cup captain Rafter.

Dolgopolov has good memories of Adelaide after he used the city to prepare his assault on this year’s Australian Open where he reached the quarter-finals.

“Of course it was a great start in Australia last year and the confidence carried on,” he said. “I’m remembering what happened here last year and I’m happy to be here again. I feel tough in the heat so it’s good for me to be here for one month when a lot of players come in from the cold. It’s pretty tough in Australia and most players don’t take that into account.”

After an interrupted 2011 season, Dolgopolov is aiming to stay injury-free to have a crack at the world’s top 10 next year which starts at Melbourne Park.

“My work is to get as fit as I can and find my best form then we’ll see,” he said. “It depends on the draw and some on luck but I hope to do at least what I did this year (at Australian Open) and maybe something better.”

Reader, who left Warradale Park to coach Dolgopolov on tour in 2009, said the 23-year-old was ditching the underdog tag after dropping more than 300 ranking spots in two years.

“The underdog we’re getting rid of slowly unfortunately because it’s always nice to be the underdog because everyone loves you,” Reader said. “When I first met Alex he was a little bit lost and frustrated with tennis but together we started to enjoy it a lot more. If you enjoy your job you’re always going to do better.”

http://worldtennischallenge.com