Dolgopolov dumped out in Toronto
Date published :
07 Aug 2012 - 20:46:47
Weekend Washington winner Alexandr Dolgopolov returned to earth on Tuesday as the Ukrainian was knocked out of the Toronto Masters in the first round by Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-1.
The joy of beating Tommy Haas in the Sunday final was short-lived for the Ukrainian who stands 16th in the world after winning the second title of his career.
Stepanek performed his demolition in 65 minutes, breaking four times. The win earned the Czech a second-round match with Olympic bronze medallist Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.
The pair had met twice in Brisbane on hardcourt and had split their matches.
Canada lost a second player in as many days as Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan beat Frank Dancevic 6-3, 7-5 as the wild card went down in his fifth ATP match in a row dating to last March in Miami.
The exit leaves the hosts with 16th seed Milos Raonic still to play his opening match after a bye into the second round.
Los Angeles winner Sam Querrey of the US beat Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, leaving the Austrian without a win since the Wimbledon opening round when he put out Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
Marcelo Granollers of Spain defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 while Russian Mikhail Youzhny beat South African Kevin Anderson 6-1, 7-6 (7-3).
