Rafael Nadal: Dolgopolov Is A Crazy Player

It should be a fun, entertaining match this afternoon when Rafael Nadal meets the unpredictable Alexandr Dolgopolov. The Ukranian star has very unique style of tennis, one Nadal calls crazy!

“He’s a crazy player,” Nadal said about Dolgopolov. “He’s a crazy player, not like a crazy guy. He’s a crazy player because you can expect everything. He can play really aggressive, he can play very fast, he has a very good serve, and ball is going too fast sometimes, no?

“He can beat you and you will not have‑‑ you have always something to do, but you will have small chances. And he can play with mistakes, but you never know because he’s a special player, and it’s very difficult to wait something.”

Nadal, though, has a gameplan in place.

“But the thing I gonna wait is he will play very fast, he will play very aggressive, and I have to be ready to accept everything what he gonna do in the match,” said Rafa. “Because he will play with very aggressive shots because his ball is going very fast. I have to play long to make him hit the balls in more difficult positions. That’s what I have to do. But I know he can hit a winner from every place on the court.”

Dolgopolov is 0-4 against Top 3 players, never winning a set in any of those matches and he’s entering the match today after two tough three set wins. Nadal, on the other hand, has enjoyed two quick victories as he bids for a seventh straight Indian Wells quarterfinal. Rafa has beaten Dolgopolov easily in both their two prior meetings.