By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, June 2, 2024
Grigor Dimitrov maintained his mastery of Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) becoming the first Bulgarian man to reach the Roland Garros quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Festering frustration reddened Hubert Hurkacz’s face like sunburn.
Nemesis Grigor Dimitrov befuddled Hurkacz with fine finesse, made the big man bonkers with angled droppers and drove him up the wall with darting drives.
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Contesting his 14th consecutive French Open, Dimitrov maintained his mastery of Hurkacz 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) becoming the first Bulgarian man to reach the Roland Garros quarterfinals.
The 10th-ranked Dimitrov has now reached quarterfinals or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments and ATP Masters 1000 events.
Producing a near flawless performance, Dimitrov dropped to his knees as tears welled up in his eyes in a moving moment.
Erupting in exhiliration, Dimitrov took off his white baseball cap and unleashed a primal scream of joy as Court Suzanne Lenglen fans showered him with cheers.
A dynamic Dimitrov has dropped just one set in four tournament wins charging into his seventh Grand Slam quarterfinal—and first since 2021 Australian Open.
Since the start of this season, Dimitrov has shown his class on court. Dimitrov opened the year capturing his ninth career title in Brisbane. That was Dimitrov’s first title since he won the 2017 ATP Finals championship at the O2 Arena in London, rising to a career-high ranking of No. 3.
These days, Dimitrov is serving with more self-assurance—he saved six of seven break points today and defended his second serve better than ace-master Hurkacz—covering the court with free-flowing verve and deploying his diversity to unsettle opponents. Dimitrov won 27 of 34 trips to net (79 percent), following some of those drop shots forward to bunt volleys into the open court.
It was Dimitrov’s first career Top 10-win in Paris and extended his career dominance over Hurkacz. Dimitrov is now 6-0 lifetime vs. Hurkacz, his best record against any opponent, sweeping all seven tiebreakers they played.
The red clay has been a launching pad for the resurgent Dimitrov, who will face either Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner or French drop-shot artist Corentin Moutet for a semifinal spot.
The confidence that comes from winning so many tight sets against the same opponent fueled Dimitrov to a one-set lead today. Down 0-2 in the tiebreaker, Dimitrov rolled through six of the next seven points for triple-set point.
On his third set point, Dimitrov converted and Hurkacz had that look of dreaded deja vu cross his face.
An ornery Hurkacz was struggling to tame negative emotion and his normally reliable front-court game as Dimitrov dragged him forward at times. When Hurkacz bumped a short backhand volley into net, Dimitrov broke for a 4-3 second-set lead.
In the eighth game, Dimitrov bamboozled the big man with a drop volley and some soft angled touch shots in the service box before cracking a clean forehand winner down the line. A staggered Hurkacz stumbled, nearly tumbled and bounded off the green signage and planted flowers like a hockey player banging into the boards after absorbing an unsettling check.
That brilliant shot sequence helped Dimitrov consolidate for 5-3.
Serving for a two-set lead, Dimitrov deployed the dropper successfully again to go up 30-15. When a pigeon landed on the top of the net, Hurkacz showed sportsmanship giving Dimitrov a first serve.
A very sporting gesture at a critical stage. Dimitrov took full advantage, blistering a backhand winner down the line on the full sprint for set point. Hurkacz saved set point with a fine forehand drop volley.
The Pole had a good look at a second serve, but put his backhand return into net and Dimitrov had a two-set lead after one hour, 47 minutes.
Early in the third set, Dimitrov was sprinting right when he slid and slipped falling to his back on the red dirt. Hurkacz showed concern for his fallen foe running around the net to the other side to make sure Dimitrov was okay.
The deficit deepened when the Pole ballooned a mid-court forehand well long—his 31st unforced error—giving Dimitrov a break point in the third game.
The former Miami Open champion attacked but Dimitrov hit a backhand face that sounded like it caught a bit of his Wilson frame and sailed over Hurkacz’s head settling into the corner. That winner gave Dimitrov the break and a 2-1 lead.
A cluster of Hurkacz errors helped Dimitrov take a 4-0 lead in the third-set tiebreaker. Dimitrov drilled a forehand winner punctuating a five-shot rally for a 5-2 lead.
Hurkacz couldn’t find the range on his backhand as Dimitrov gained triple match point at 6-3.
Attacking behind a forehand, Dimitrov blocked a volley to close in two hours, 51 minutes.
In his 14th consecutive Roland Garros quarterfinal, Dimitrov finally landed a spot in the last eight and relished the moment.