By Chris Oddo | Saturday November 18, 2017
Grigor Dimitrov is one step from the biggest title of his career after edging American Jack Sock in three sets to reach the title match at the Nitto ATP Finals in London, 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.
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Dimitrov snaps a three-match losing streak to Sock and improves to 48-19 on the season with four finals to his name. The Bulgarian will bid for his 4th title of the season on Sunday when he meets Belgium’s David Goffin in the final. Dimitrov dropped just two games against Goffin when the pair met in group play earlier in the week; he holds a 4-1 lifetime edge over the No.7 seed.
The players are the first from their respective countries to reach the final at the ATP’s prestigious year-end championships.
Dimitrov had his hands full with Sock on Saturday.
The American battled back from 3-0 down to take the opening set, and he competed neck-and-neck with Dimitrov in the decider before finally surrendering a break in a shaky eighth game that allowed Dimitrov to serve for the match.
The drama didn’t stop there as Sock played courageously and earned three break points before Dimitrov finally converted his fourth match point to clinch victory in one hour and 59 minutes.
“Jack is an unbelievable player, that forehand gave me so much trouble I’m not going to lie,” said Dimitrov, who won all seven points against Socks' second serve in the final set.
Dimitrov had to battle nerves at the finish but he can be thrilled that he managed to get across the finish line against one of the hottest players in tennis. Sock qualified for London on the strength of his first career Masters 1000 title in Paris and he went 2-1 in group play, knocking out Alexander Zverev on Thursday to become the first American to reach the semifinals at the Nitto ATP Finals since Andy Roddick in 2007.
Sock finishes the season as 38-21, and the 25-year-old could be a factor at the top of the game in 2018 if he can build on this success.
Dimitrov is headed for his first ever Top 3 finish, and he hopes to finish the season off with what would be his biggest title to date.
“My belief was really good today,” Dimitrov told the crowd at the O2 Arena after the match. “I know I didn’t play by best tennis but those are the days that I really like to win--today I managed to do that.”