Indian Wells

Nadal and Sharapova stunned at Indian Wells

ESPN staff

March 11, 2014

Sharapova shocked

Defending champion Rafael Nadal was upset in the third round at Indian Wells after losing to Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 3-6 7-6(5).

Nadal staged a furious rally in the third set after trailing 5-2. He won three straight games, including a break of Dolgopolov, to tie it up. Both players held serve to send the match into the tiebreaker.

They slugged it out from the baseline accompanied by a noisy soundtrack, with fans yelling and cheering. Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol watched nervously from Nadal's box. Nadal led 4-2 before Dolgopolov won three straight points to take a 5-4 lead. The Ukrainian hit two forehand winners and came up with a big service winner.

"I had enough breaks to win the match, but I didn't play enough well from the baseline then to be solid with my serve," Nadal said. "I didn't go for the points. I played with too many mistakes."

Nadal evened it at five-all, but he hit the ball long to set up match point. Dolgopolov served what he thought was an ace, but it was called out. He challenged the call and it showed the ball barely missed tagging the T. Dolgopolov put his second serve into play and produced a cross-court forehand that Nadal couldn't return.

"It's a moment for the people to be proud a little bit for someone from their country," Dolgopolov said, referring to the political upheaval going on between Ukraine and Russia. "It's good to make some results and make the people forget a little bit and have some happy moments in the news."

Dolgopolov had more errors (49) than winners (36).

Last month, Nadal defeated Dolgopolov to win the Rio de Janeiro title. The Ukrainian has risen quickly in the ATP Tour rankings, going from No. 57 to 31st after a strong February, posting three wins against top-20 players in Rio and making the semifinals in Acapulco.

Camila Giorgi upset defending women's champion Maria Sharapova 6-3 4-6 7-5 in the third round, giving the young Italian her first victory over a top-five player.

Sharapova's lob sailed long on Giorgi's first match point, one of 58 errors for the Russian in her first loss to a player ranked outside the top 30 since Wimbledon last year.

"She's someone that doesn't give you much rhythm," Sharapova said. "She's quite aggressive, but some shots she hits incredible for a long period of time. Sometimes they go off a bit. If I'm speaking about my level, it was nowhere near where it should have been."

Ranked 79th in the world, Giorgi made it through qualifying to play Indian Wells for the first time. She improved to 3-2 against top-10 opponents. The 22-year-old led 4-2 in the final set, but Sharapova broke Giorgi twice to tie it at five-all.

"I was trying to just play my game, and maybe I accelerate more than the other set," Giorgi said. "I just play more aggressive."

Giorgi then broke Sharapova at love before serving out the match, overcoming her 11th double fault to set up match point. Giorgi had 48 unforced errors and 24 winners.

"If she can play like that on a consistent basis, she will be a good player," Sharapova said.