<p>Alexandr Dolgopolov toppled world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in the third round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ukraine's Dolgopolov, ranked 31st in the world and seeded 28th in the first Masters tournament of the year, notched his first victory over the Spanish superstar after five prior defeats.<br /><br />The most recent of those was in the claycourt final at Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago.<br /><br />Nadal had reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells every year since 2006, winning the title in 2007, 2009 and last year.<br /><br />Down a break at 5-3 in the third, Nadal broke Dolgopolov to get the set back on serve and from there they went to the tiebreaker.<br /><br />Dolgopolov kept his composure on the first match point, when he initially thought he had won the contest with an ace only to see that call overturned on a challenge from Nadal.<br />He put his second serve in play, and sealed the win with a blistering forehand that Nadal couldn't get back.<br /><br />"I feel great, I mean, as after every win, of course," Dolgopolov said. "This one was bigger, and I beat the defending champion, number one in the world.<br /><br />"I guess I just need to enjoy this evening and forget about it tomorrow and try to compete the rest of the tournament. I'm still in."<br /><br />It was Dolgopolov's second victory over a top-five foe in less than a month. He upset Spain's David Ferrer en route to the final in Rio.<br /><br />"He played great," Nadal said. "He had good tournaments in Rio, in Acapulco, so it's great what he is doing.<br /><br />"At the end I have to analyze my part. I had enough breaks to win the match, but I didn't play well enough from the baseline then to be solid with my serve. <br /><br />"It's not a problem with my serve, it was more a problem with my baseline shots. I didn't go for the points. I played with too many mistakes."<br /><br />Nadal broke Dogopolov to open the match - but they ended up trading breaks in the first four games and it was the Ukrainian who gained the decisive break for a 5-4 lead then withstood two break points to pocket the set.<br /><br />After Nadal had knotted the contest at one set each, Dolgopolov took control with a break for 4-2 in the third.<br /><br />But he was broken at love when he served for the match at 5-3 and Nadal then held at love for 5-5.<br /><br />Leading 6-5 in the tiebreaker, Dolgopolov had to survive one last hiccup when his apparent ace was ruled out after a challenge by Nadal.<br /><br />He calmly put his second serve in play, and sealed the match with a forehand winner.<br />"It's not a drama," Nadal said. "It's a loss. I accept that, try to rest a few days and be fresh mentally and I hope to be ready for Miami."<br /><br />Dolgopolov, meanwhile, will take on Italy's Fabio Fognini in a rematch of their quarter-final in Rio.<br /><br />Fognini beat Gael Monfils 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, surviving two match points when the Frenchman double-faulted on both.</p>
<p>Alexandr Dolgopolov toppled world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in the third round of the Indian Wells ATP Masters.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ukraine's Dolgopolov, ranked 31st in the world and seeded 28th in the first Masters tournament of the year, notched his first victory over the Spanish superstar after five prior defeats.<br /><br />The most recent of those was in the claycourt final at Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago.<br /><br />Nadal had reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells every year since 2006, winning the title in 2007, 2009 and last year.<br /><br />Down a break at 5-3 in the third, Nadal broke Dolgopolov to get the set back on serve and from there they went to the tiebreaker.<br /><br />Dolgopolov kept his composure on the first match point, when he initially thought he had won the contest with an ace only to see that call overturned on a challenge from Nadal.<br />He put his second serve in play, and sealed the win with a blistering forehand that Nadal couldn't get back.<br /><br />"I feel great, I mean, as after every win, of course," Dolgopolov said. "This one was bigger, and I beat the defending champion, number one in the world.<br /><br />"I guess I just need to enjoy this evening and forget about it tomorrow and try to compete the rest of the tournament. I'm still in."<br /><br />It was Dolgopolov's second victory over a top-five foe in less than a month. He upset Spain's David Ferrer en route to the final in Rio.<br /><br />"He played great," Nadal said. "He had good tournaments in Rio, in Acapulco, so it's great what he is doing.<br /><br />"At the end I have to analyze my part. I had enough breaks to win the match, but I didn't play well enough from the baseline then to be solid with my serve. <br /><br />"It's not a problem with my serve, it was more a problem with my baseline shots. I didn't go for the points. I played with too many mistakes."<br /><br />Nadal broke Dogopolov to open the match - but they ended up trading breaks in the first four games and it was the Ukrainian who gained the decisive break for a 5-4 lead then withstood two break points to pocket the set.<br /><br />After Nadal had knotted the contest at one set each, Dolgopolov took control with a break for 4-2 in the third.<br /><br />But he was broken at love when he served for the match at 5-3 and Nadal then held at love for 5-5.<br /><br />Leading 6-5 in the tiebreaker, Dolgopolov had to survive one last hiccup when his apparent ace was ruled out after a challenge by Nadal.<br /><br />He calmly put his second serve in play, and sealed the match with a forehand winner.<br />"It's not a drama," Nadal said. "It's a loss. I accept that, try to rest a few days and be fresh mentally and I hope to be ready for Miami."<br /><br />Dolgopolov, meanwhile, will take on Italy's Fabio Fognini in a rematch of their quarter-final in Rio.<br /><br />Fognini beat Gael Monfils 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, surviving two match points when the Frenchman double-faulted on both.</p>