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By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 4, 2017

 
Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov saved set point in the first set and reeled off five straight games in the second sealing a 7-6 (6), 7-5, win over Juan Martin del Potro.

Photo credit: China Open Facebook

Juan Martin del Potro’s forehand power is undeniable.

Grigor Dimitrov countered with compelling closing power.

Raonic: Shorten Season

Dimitrov denied a set point in the first set tie break then roared back from 2-5 down in the second set reeling off five straight games surging past del Potro, 7-6 (6), 7-5, into his seventh quarterfinal of the season in Beijing.

The third-seeded Bulgarian exhibited grit and guts lifting his level of play in the critical stages of both sets defeating del Potro for the second straight meeting.



Del Potro built a 5-0 career lead over Dimitrov until the 2016 China Open finalist defeated the Argentine for the first time in August en route to his first Masters championship in Cincinnati.

In today’s rematch del Potro was dominant on serve at the start and nearly went up a double break before Dimitrov held to get on the board.

Targeting del Potro’s weaker backhand wing with a flurry of diagonal forehands, Dimitrov broke back. Del Potro held at 30 to fore the tie break.

A sharp-angled backhand volley set up an easy high forehand volley as the tower of Tandil went up 3-1 in the tie break. When Dimitrov mis-hit a forehand, del Potro had set point at 6-5.

Working over the big man’s backhand wing again, Dimitrov gained the upper hand in the ensuing rally as del Potro shanked a forehand for 6-all.

Attacking net, Dimitrov drew a netted backhand for set point. Del Potro, who had serve with authority in the early stages, slapped a double fault into the tape to end a tight opening set.

The second set followed a similar script with the 24th-ranked Argentine again starting strong.

Del Potro amped up the velocity of his groundstrokes in the sixth game. Though Dimitrov denied two break points, del Potro converted the third gaining a 4-2 lead when the Bulgarian missed the mark on a backhand down the line.



The 2009 US Open champion served for the second set at 5-3, but could not close as Dimitrov broke back.

Timely trips to net helped initiate Dimitrov’s comeback. He won seven of 11 net points. Unleashing the serve-and-volley, Dimitrov held at 15 to level after 10 games.

Putting a low return at the 6-foot-6 Argentine’s feet, Dimitrov forced del Potro to scrape a low forehand long. The Bulgarian’s second straight break empowered him to serve for the match at 6-5.

Burying a forehand in the corner brought Dimitrov triple match point. When del Potro put a tired backhand return into net, Dimitrov was through to his third straight China Open quarterfinal with a two-hour triumph.

The world No. 8 will play Roberto Bautista Agut for a semifinal spot. The pair have split two prior meetings with Dimitrov prevailing in their most recent encounter at the 2014 Australian Open.

The fifth-seeded Spaniard held a 6-0, 4-0 lead when Aljaze Bedene retired from their second-round match avoiding the rare double bagel.

No. 8-seeded Nick Kyrgios rallied for a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, victory over Mischa Zverev to reach his sixth quarterfinal of the season.




The 22-year-old Kyrgios takes on veteran Steve Darcis next. That match is a rematch of their Davis Cup clash last month, which Kyrgios won 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-2, on the red clay of Belgium.

The 33-year-old Darcis saved all four break points he faced in a 6-3, 6-4 sweep of Dusan Lajovic in 72 minutes.

 

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