By Chris Oddo | Wednesday February 17, 2016

 

Grigor Dimitrov rallied from a set and a break down against Damir Dzumhur to reach the quarters at the Delray Beach Open.

Photo Source: Tennis Channel

It wasn't pretty and for a long time it hung in the balance, but in the end Grigor Dimitrov got the win he sought.

The world No. 28 reached the quarterfinals of the Delray Beach Open with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur on Wednesday night, rallying from a set and a break down to claim a hard-fought victory over a tricky opponent. The Delray debutant is the highest seed remaining in the draw and he’ll face eighth-seeded Adrian Mannarino in the last eight.

Mannarino defeated Tatsuma Ito, 7-6(6), 6-7(4), 6-3.

Dimitrov started quickly in his first career meeting with the 23-year-old Bosnian, but he would soon lose his way. Dimitrov blew a 4-1 lead in the first set and after losing eight out of nine games suddenly found himself down a set and a break.

But despite struggles on serve, the Bulgarian pulled it together, got back on serve, and broke the Bosnian at 15 to take the second set.

But he wasn’t out of hot water yet. Dimitrov found himself down a break again in set three but he again rallied, taking the final five games to close out his ninth victory of the season.

In other action on Tuesday, American Rajeev Ram followed up on his upset of 2nd-seeded Bernard Tomic with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Illya Marchenko, while Germany’s Benjamin Becker upset 6th-seeded Steve Johnson, 5-7, 7-6(1), 6-3.