Grigor Dimitrov has returned to the quarterfinals of the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Juan Martin Del Potro. The Bulgarian, a semifinalist in Ohio last year, finally got the better of the Argentine after dropping their first five career matchups.
Fast start by Dimitrov
Playing in blistering heat, it was the Bulgarian who was quick out of the blocks, forcing Del Potro to move from the back of the court and his strategy paid off. Facing 0-40 on his serve, the former U.S. Open champion saved the first with an ace, but his volley went long on the second and Dimitrov was ahead 2-0.
After a challenging hold for a 3-0 lead, the match began to settle into what everyone thought it would be and Del Potro's level of play was getting better, but the early break was proving pivotal. Dimitrov's serve was on fire and the seventh seed continued to pressure the Argentine's serve, but Del Potro was able to hold.
Serving for the set, Dimitrov fell behind 0-30, but after an epic rally ended with the Bulgarian blistering a forehand, he had a one-set lead when Del Potro's return flew long on set point.
Del Potro blows lead, Dimitrov claims win
After raising his level late in the first set, the big Argentine carried that into the second set and after a Dimitrov double fault brought up break point, Del Potro crushed a forehand winner to take a 2-0 lead and followed with a hold to secure the break and lead 3-0.
After a battling hold saw him lead 4-1, things went downhill for Del Potro in a hurry. At 30-30, a forehand error brought up break point followed by a DImitrov winner off of that same wing to bring the set back on serve.
Despite that, the Argentine was just two points from forcing a third set at 5-4, 30-30 and a perfect drop shot set up set point, but some good work from Dimitrov gave him a crucial hold after fighting off two more set points.
The heat was starting to take its toll on Del Potro and he was moving visibly worse. Missing easy shots he normally makes, he found himself down at 15-40 and after rallying, couldn't save a third break chance. Dimitrov would serve out the match in the next game for a spot in the last eight.
Tough opponent awaits Dimitrov in last eight
Sugita has had his best year on tour, winning his first career title in Antalya and is now inside the world's Top 50. The Japanese pushed Dimitrov in their only career meeting last year, with the Bulgarian claiming a razor-thin 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory in the first round of last year's Rogers Cup.
"He's been playing really well," said Dimitrov. "I watched quite a few of his matches... The conditions don't really bother him. He's going to be definitely a tough opponent to play. I don't underestimate his ability to play good tennis. [When] you're in the quarter-final of a Masters 1000 anything can happen. He's pretty determined, and he's pretty excited to play, so that makes him even more dangerous."