After his recent struggles, former Wimbledon semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov has reached the third round, beating Gilles Simon in four sets, 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. 

Strong first set from Dimitrov

Dimitrov started strong off the blocks, holding to love quickly, forcing Simon to make backhand errors. The Frenchman held himself for 1-1, sealing the game with an ace. The trend continued with Dimitrov winning his service game to lead 2-1, but some perfect positioning and heavy groundstrokes sent the Bulgarian up a break. It was an impressive start from Dimitrov, who was moving well and consolidated the all-important break with a deep, forehand winner.

Simon appeared calm and composed as he was able to stay with Dimitrov, forcing some errors off the Bulgarian’s racket. However, it wasn’t long before the Bulgarian found himself serving for the set at 5-3. Simon, with an impressive forehand passing shot, provided a little resistance, but a huge backhand down the line from Dimitrov gave him two set points. He took the first, grabbing hold of a very solid first set, 6-3, in 34 minutes.

More exciting second set

The Frenchman benefited from a couple of unforced errors from Dimitrov to take hold of the first game. In the next, a wonderful dropshot that just drifted over the net worked perfectly for the Bulgarian, but Simon forced some errors to take the same to 30-30. A long, baseline rally was won by Dimitrov as he stayed patient to force the error from Simon. All of a sudden rain started to fall and the players walked to their chairs for a moment as umbrellas shot up, but luckily the shower was brief and after a few minutes the players resumed. Dimitrov, who was left at game point, quickly served an ace to level up at 1-1.

Simon dictated play from the back of the court, holding to love with a cross court winner to put him ahead for the first time in a set at 2-1. As the match began to get more competitive, it was Simon’s turn to win a long rally at the baseline, but Dimitrov remained in front with an ace. The Frenchman hit a couple of impressive backhand passing shots, but despite sending the game to deuce, he lost it, as Dimitrov held with an athletic dropshot. The first set was a timid affair, but the second was a different story altogether. Both players were aggressive, taking turns to win competitive rallies. However, as Simon closed in on the net, Dimitrov gained a break point with a spectacular lob. The sixteenth seed Simon escaped from a tight game to remain in front at 3-2. It was a lot easier for the Bulgarian, as he held to love with an aggressive service game.

Photo Source: BBC Tennis.
Photo: BBC Tennis.

Dimitrov remained very patient, only looking to move forward when he got the chance, which continued to be effective as he went up 30-0 on Simon’s service game. Dimitrov saw two break points. The first was lost with a wonderful passing shot from the Frenchman but the second was taken, when after a marathon rally, Dimitrov’s backhand just drifted over the net, clipping the line. In an encounter that only got better, the unseeded Bulgarian was up a set and a break, 6-3, 4-3. In the next game, Simon earned a break point by forcing the error from Dimitrov in a long rally, which he took, to put us back on serve.

The former Wimbledon semifinalist looked to break back, starting the game with a forehand winner, but it wasn’t long before Simon remained in front at 5-4. It was crucial for Dimitrov to hold his serve to remain in the second set, which he did, but not without difficulty as his service game was sent to deuce and he had to work hard to hold. The Frenchman was in danger of losing focus after Dimitrov challenged a call successfully, but a forehand down the line winner sealed his game to put him ahead 6-5. A second set tiebreak followed, which was crucial for both.

The first point was dramatic as Dimitrov challenged an out ball which turned out to be in. Momentum was in the Bulgarian’s stride as a wide backhand from Simon gave him the mini- break, and after two aggressive serves, he was up 3-0 in the tiebreak. Some unforced errors from Simon resulted in Dimitrov wrapping up the tiebreak quickly and easily at 7-1, to take the second set 7-6.

Comeback from Simon

Dimitrov kicked off proceedings in the third set by holding to 15, edging ahead 1-0. A beautiful passing shot from the Bulgarian gave him confidence and it wasn’t long before he had two break points, but both were saved by Simon and he leveled up at 1-1. Dimitrov lost his focus slightly, committing some unforced errors which the Frenchman took advantage of, breaking serve for 2-1.

Over the last two sets Dimitrov had been playing smart, powerful tennis, but the unforced errors became more frequent and he let Simon dictate play. The Frenchman had three break points, but Dimitrov was hanging on and he was able to save all of them, preventing a double break. Simon held to love to remain in head by 4-2, as Dimitrov appeared to completely lose his focus and any tactics he had.

Some sloppy points let the concentrated Frenchman break yet again to allow him to serve for the third set at 5-2. Some good returns from Dimitrov off some weak serves and poor shot selection from Simon got him one of the breaks back. The Bulgarian consolidated his break and forced the Frenchman to try and serve out the set once again, this time at 5-4. In a dramatic game featuring falls and challenged line calls, despite some resistance from Dimitrov, Simon managed to serve the third set out, 6-4.

Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images

Topsy-turvy final set

Some stronger groundstrokes from Dimitrov combined with a few unforced errors from the Frenchman allowed him to hold to 15 to kick off the fourth set. A composed service game from Simon followed, and despite some resistance from the Bulgarian who took the game to deuce, he held for 1-1. The sixteenth seed then proceeded to break serve with a backhand down the line, as Dimitrov’s alertness continued to dip.

Simon then consolidated the break of serve as he stayed entirely calm throughout, still up a break. Dimitrov was hanging on though, as he continued to hit heavy to hold serve despite some errors still flying off his racket. Simon fired some winners around the court, helped along by some poor choices of shot by Dimitrov. The Bulgarian kept trying to hang in the set and managed to prevent Simon getting the double break, holding for 3-4.

Quick hands at the net using the slice got Dimitrov a look-in at 30-15, but a heavy serve from the Frenchman forced the error. A fantastic rally from both was won by Dimitrov to get a break point, as he made good use of the slice yet again. The game flickered backwards and forwards between deuce and advantage, and after an unforced error from the Frenchman, Dimitrov broke back, a hugely significant moment in this match.

Momentum was right back to Dimitrov, who started really utilising the skills he has, and suddenly the Bulgarian was just a game away from the third round. All of a sudden, after just over three hours of play, Grigor Dimitrov had his first match point which he took, capturing a much-needed win.

Dimitrov will face American Steve Johnson in the third round, who defeated Jeremy Chardy in straight sets.

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