[ad_1]
Grigor Dimitrov first showed signs of rejuvenation when he won the Brisbane title in his first tournament of the season.
It was like a dogfight on both ends, I think we really went at each other, especially after that first set. Grigor Dimitrov
Since then, he has produced some excellent tennis reaching the final of Marseille and posting a 15-4 record of wins and losses coming into the Miami Masters where he has stormed into the final where he hopes to collect the 10th title of his career and the first at Masters level since winning the 2017 Cincinnati Open.
And considering that he produced an awesome display of tennis in dismissing the world No.2 and top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, in the quarter finals, one wouldn’t bet against him upsetting the world No.3, Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final.
In the semis, the32-year-old Dimitrov overcame the fourth seeded Alexander Zverev with another epic performance 6-4 6-7(4) to face the 22-year-old Sinner for the title, the young Italian having dispatched the world No.4 and defending champion, Daniil Medvedev in 91-minutes, 6-1 6-2.
Dimitrov took a well contested opening set on his first breakpoint of the German’s serve but was pegged back in the second when which Zverev edged the tiebreak.
Zverev, with five Masters titles to his credit, was aiming for a first final at this level since a 2022 Madrid Open defeat to the Spanish whiz-kid Alcaraz, but saw his chances fade after a crucial break in the seventh game of the decider, to hand his veteran opponent another chance to score an upset.
“It was like a dogfight on both ends,” Dimitrov admitted afterwards. “I think we really went at each other, especially after that first set. I felt like he upped his game a little bit and he was very, very strong throughout the whole second set and even in the tie-break. He was constantly putting a lot of pressure on me.
Grigor Dimitrov shakes hands with Alexander Zverev following his win
(Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
“And then in the third set, he had one [break] chance. I served good and then I kept on going after my shots. I think in the end, I played with a little bit more authority and was moving the ball very well.”
Irrespective of the final outcome, Dimitrov is set to break back into the top 10 of the world rankings when the new listings are published on Monday. It will be his first appearance there since 2018.
“I fight my own battles right now. I run my own race,” Dimitrov said. “I think all that comes with all the work that we have put in as a team. I’m on a very different path in my life, in my career.
“There’s a lot that was done, a lot of work, a lot of everything behind it. I kept on believing, I kept on thriving, I kept on having faith in myself. This is just the cherry on the cake.”
Jannik Sinner kept his focus to overwhelm the defending champion
(Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
Earlier, Australian Open champion Sinner booked his place in the final, and, like Dimitrov, is continuing a remarkable run which started when he conquered Melbourne for his first grand slam title.
He has been virtually unbeatable since then, arriving in Miami with a 16-1 win-loss record from three events having also become the Rotterdam champion His only loss experienced at Indian Wells.
On this occasion, he dominated Medvedev after losing to him in last year’s Miami final, to claim his fifth win over the big Russian in what was anear perfect display of tennis.
Speaking on court after the match, Sinner said he felt “very happy” with his performance against a top player but appreciated his opponent was not up to his usual form.
“I felt great on the court today,” he said. “Usually, the more you go on in a tournament, the more comfortable I feel.
“He [Medvedev] made a lot of mistakes, which he usually doesn’t make. I just took the chance. I was expecting a really tough match.
“If he breaks me in the first set or in the second set, it’s already very different.”
The young Italian star believes he is “a different player and a different person” to the one that reached the final a year ago.
“Sometimes I think back and remember the night before the final; I couldn’t sleep, I was sweating during the night,” Sinner admitted.
“Now, I handle the situation much, much better and I’m just excited and happy to come back. Hopefully, I can play some good tennis on Sunday.”
Of one thing tennis fans can be sure of, the final could be a classic encounter between two players who are currently at the top of their games.
Jannik Sinner shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev following their semi-final clash
(Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)
[ad_2]
