Robin Soderling has crashed out of the Australian Open after a surprise fourth-round defeat to Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Fourth seed falls to Dolgopolov in last 16
Robin Soderling has crashed out of the Australian Open after a surprise fourth-round defeat to Alexandr Dolgopolov.
The fourth seed could not cope with some incredible shot-making from his Ukrainian opponent and was eventually beaten 1-6 6-3 6-1 4-6 6-2.
The loss means that the Swede has failed to set-up the expected quarter-final showdown with British number one Andy Murray, who will now face Dolgopolov in the last eight.
"It was a good match. I was really struggling at the start, he plays a hard ball and I was serving pretty badly," Kiev-born Dolgopolov said.
"But I had a chance to get back in the match and I was playing well from the baseline."
Dolgopolov made a slow start, managing to get only 23 per cent of his first serves in during the opening set as Soderling broke twice to forge ahead.
But the unseeded 22-year-old then found his range and mounted a comeback, while Soderling was bogged down by unforced errors.
Turnaround
Dolgopolov turned the tables by taking the second and third sets with ease, although the world number four hit stemmed the tide by levelling the contest in the fourth.
Soderling was again outgunned in the decider, however, as Dolgopolov broke twice behind a variety of groundstrokes to seal the upset in two hours and 39 minutes.
"I never underestimate anyone. I just didn't feel good and didn't play well enough. Simple as that," Soderling said of the shock result.
"I struggled throughout the whole match. I won the first set, yeah, but I didn't win it because I played well. He wasn't on it at the start.
"Then he started to play much better, which I didn't. He's a good player. He has a great backhand and moves well. He's a great counter-puncher and has a good chance to do really well."
He added: "I have struggled many times in this tournament. But I made it to the fourth round here. At least it's much better than previous years.
"I fought through three matches which I am very proud of but I never felt that I played really well, which you need to, especially in a grand slam."
