Grigor Dimitrov faced his first challenge of the Australian Open in the second round against Marco Trungelliti, but he responded well to reach the third round with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory.
Quick Start Carries Dimitrov
It would not take long for Grigor Dimitrov to get the decisive break in the opening set. After holding to start the match, the Bulgarian broke Trungelliti with four answered points from 15-0 to grab the early break.
The Argentinian, who was appearing in his first Grand Slam main draw, showed some nerves in that game, double faulting and throwing in a pair of unforced errors to allow Dimitrov the break. That break was all Dimitrov needed. Neither man reached break point again in the set and Dimitrov rode the early break to a one-set lead.
Trungelliti Strikes Back
After allowing that early break in the first, Trungelliti calmed down and looked more confident. While it was too late to salvage the first set, his improved play carried over into the second set. This time, he returned the favor by breaking Dimitrov in the second game, courtesy of a double fault, and holding for an early 3-0 lead.
Unfortunately for the Argentinian, Dimitrov broke back in the fifth game when Trungelliti double faulted on break point to even the set at 3-3. Both men held with ease until 4-5, when Dimitrov was serving to stay in the set. Desperate to even the match, Trungelliti threw everything at the Bulgarian.
He led 15-40, two set points, but could not convert. After missing a third set point, the Argentinian was given a fourth chance courtesy of a Dimitrov unforced error. This time he was not to be denied, breaking for the set with a forehand winner.
Dimitrov Powers to Lead
Faced with his first real challenge of the tournament, Dimitrov immediately reasserted his dominance by breaking Trungelliti to open the third set. He broke again in the fifth game, but was forced to save three break points in the sixth game, barely holding on for the 5-1 lead. After Trungelliti held to force Dimitrov to serve out the set, the Bulgarian was untroubled in grabbing the two sets to one lead, closing out the set with an ace.
Late Break Sends Dimitrov Through
The fourth set started out with both men routinely holding serve. In the fifth game, Dimitrov had a chance to break the set wide open, grabbing a 0-40 lead on Trungelliti’s serve. But the Argentinian fought back, saving all three break points before holding.
Despite his valiant effort to keep the set on serve, Trungelliti could not get anything going on his return. When Dimitrov served to stay in the set at 4-5, the Argentinian managed to force a deuce, but could not reach break point. A game later, he missed a game point before Dimitrov drilled a pair of forehand winners to claim the late break. Dimitrov served out the match the following game.
By the Numbers
Seven double faults were a big part of Trungelliti’s undoing, as was his struggles on break point, only converting two of his eight opportunities. He also hit a dozen more unforced errors than winners. Even though Dimitrov hit forty unforced errors, he backed them up with forty-three winners and eleven aces, converting five of his nine break point opportunities.
Dimitrov will be in deep in the third round, as he will take on third seed and four-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer, who defeated him two weeks ago in Brisbane.