By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, March 28, 2016
Grigor Dimitrov reeled off five straight games to seal a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3 Miami Open victory over second-ranked Andy Murray.
Photo credit: Miami Open
Midway through the final set, Andy Murray rocketed a smash at such a sharp angle Grigor Dimitrov ran off the court, past the flowers that surround the front row, and disappeared into the tunnel trying to track the ball down.
That sequence summed up the 26th-seed's approach to the decisive set: No matter where Murray hit it, Dimitrov was determined to get it.
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Down 1-3 in the final set, Dimitrov soared through five straight games surprising the second-ranked Scot, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the Miami Open round of 16.
Dimitrov snapped a seven-match losing streak vs. Top 10 opponents in scoring his first Top 10 win since he beat Stan Wawrinka in Madrid last May.
"I played quite a few times against him. I think we know our game pretty well, to be honest," Dimitrov said. "I just played better in the good moments today. That's it. I had quite a few opportunities and I used them. I think I was just a smart player throughout the course of the whole match.
"Even though I lost the first set, I kept a good composure. It's tough. Even though was 4-Love up in the second set I felt it still isn't over. Also the whole situation kind of sucks you in and you try to do a little more. Next thing you know the one break was back. So I had to stay in the match and had to be really focused. I think when I was 3-1 down in the third set, I really felt that I know I'm going to get another chance because I was returning well, playing very good in the key moments. I'm happy with all those things, to be honest, today."
It was Dimitrov's second career win over a Top 2-ranked player. He upset world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on clay at the 2013 Madrid Masters.
This win had to be particularly satisfying given Dimitrov blew a one-set, two break lead, and later a match point, bowing to Murray, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 in a gut-wrenching Cincinnati loss last August.
This time, Dimitrov converted six of seven break points, volleyed effectively and prevailed in several pulsating points that spilled all over the court in the final set. Murray, typically so solid on the Crandon Park court that often serves as his practice court, committed some crucial errors down the stretch.
"A lot of unforced errors in the third set for sure," Murray said. "Obviously, didn't start the second set particularly well. After winning a close first set you obviously want to try and put your opponent under pressure. I think I lost my first two service games to love, so that wasn't very good. And then the third set managed to get up a break and then a lot of unforced errors. Credit to him. He was more solid than me."
The two-time champion's departure comes after two-time champion Roger Federer pulled out with a stomach virus last Friday, fourth-ranked Stan Wawrinka was upset by Andrey Kuznetsov in the second round and fifth-ranked Rafael Nadal was felled by heat-induced dizziness retiring from his opener.
"I'm sure it's happened before. It's not happened often though, that's for sure, over the last 8 to 10 years with the players that have been around," Murray said of the exodus of seeds. "They're extremely consistent players as well. Yeah, I mean, it will have happened, but not often. I'm not sure exactly why that is.
"Sometimes if it's extremely windy conditions, you know, that can be more of a leveler, but the conditions the last few days have actually been really, really nice. It's been hot and humid, but good conditions for tennis. So, yeah, don't know why that is."
In their ninth career clash, the pair traded breaks early. A leaping smash capped an athletic hold for Dimitrov and a 5-4 lead.
Murray thumped an ace down the middle to force the tie breaker. Dimitrov, who had played with control and aggression for much of the opening set, completely fell apart in the breaker.
A double-fault, backhand error and successive forehand misses put him in a 0-4 hole in the tiebreaker. Murray maintained the depth of his shots and let Dimitrov implode. The Bulgarian bashed a forehand sitter long then netted a backhand ending the opening set.
Keeping calm and carrying on is not always in the Murray playbook. The ornery Scot slipped into cranky mode mood as the second set began. Dimitrov broke to open the second set then backed up the break for 2-0.
After falling behind 0-3, Murray spent time during the ensuing changeover hammering away at his racquet back with his Head racquet. Dimitrov extended the lead to 4-0 before Murray broke back. The Bulgarian won eight of 11 points played on Murray's second serve in snatching the second set.
Powering through a two-ace game, Murray took a 2-1 lead in the decider. When Dimitrov sprayed a forehand, Murray had the first break and a 3-1 advantage.
Pressing forward, Dimitrov angled a backhand volley then soared for a smash breaking back for 2-3.
Defending his backhand with vigor, Dimitrov drew a Murray backhand error for double break point. Digging out a low return, the Bulgarian drew another error breaking for 4-3. Dimitrov played dynamic tennis, quickly moving around his backhand to spread the court with the inside-out forehand and sometimes finish firing the forehand down the line.
A struggle to close has tormented the former Wimbledon semifinalist at times. Dimitrov failed to convert a match point falling to Viktor Troicki in the Sydney final in January and could not finish against 58th-ranked Alexander Zverev in his Indian Wells opener earlier this month.
When his moment arrived today, Dimitrov didn't blink. Whipping his forehand into the corners, Dimitrov scored his third straight break to complete his biggest win of the year in two hours, 25 minutes.
It was Dimitrov's first win over Murray since he toppled the defending Wimbledon champion in the 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinals. Like Dimitrov, Murray was once a highly-talented young player trying to harness his game and make a major breakthrough. Asked afterward if he believes Dimitrov will break through and win a Grand Slam title, Murray offered an interesting answer.
"It's possible for sure. He's performed well in a few slams and had deep runs and had big wins as well," Murray said. "But it's not an easy thing to do. I know that myself. And the group of guys that are coming up behind are really, really good players as well.
"It depends a little bit how they develop, too. A lot of them are huge guys, big guys with big games and move well. Certainly possible that he wins a slam, but nothing is a given in this sport. I know that. I have a lot of experience in that. You just have to wait and see."