2024-03-31 22:09:54
Since the beginning of this season, Grigor Dimitrov has several times missed the opportunity to return to the top 10 of the world rankings. This task has already been completed, but not the other one, which was definitely more important for the business card of the best Bulgarian tennis player in history.
Former No. 3 Dimitrov was just one win away from the title in Miami and a second Masters 1000 cup. In 2017, he won the tournament of the same category in Cincinnati. In the final, however, he lost 3:6, 1:6 to the third in the current ranking Yannick Siner.
Even with the naked eye one could notice that Dimitrov did not show his true potential. In an interview with Sky Sports before the final, one of his coaches – Jamie Delgado, revealed that the Bulgarian had a problem even before the semi-final and was not feeling well. This was the reason why our tennis player got an extra day off.
Just by reaching the final in Florida, Grigor secured the 9th place in the ATP rankings. It was last in the top 10 on October 29, 2018, or 260 weeks ago. Had he won the final, he would have leapfrogged Kasper Ruud (Nor) and Holger Rune (Dan) to be 7th in the world.
However, the opponent in Miami is not to be underestimated at all. Yannick Siner, 22, enters the match on the back of 24 wins in his last 25 matches, a streak that includes the Davis Cup titles with Italy, the Australian Open and Rotterdam. In his third Miami final, the two-time Sofia Open champion became the first Italian to win in the Magic City and will be world No.2.
C-L-U-T-C-H@janniksin comes up with a brilliant winner on set point! pic.twitter.com/p43eCwOXJE
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 31, 2024
And set
2:1. Grigor Dimitrov chose to start with serve and won both games in which he had the opening shot, making 2 aces as well. His opponent had no problems for 1:1.
2:2. Grigor once again delighted the crowd with a direct backhand return point, and then he reached a break point, but the Italian escaped.
2:3. Breakthrough! Dimitrov made a double fault, fell behind 0:30 and then gave his opponent 2 opportunities to break. He saved one, but Siner took advantage of the second.
3:4. Siner consolidated his lead with a confident game. In the next, he again had opportunities to break and secure the chance to serve for the first set. Despite the mistakes in the previous plays, Dimitrov saved himself with well-constructed combinations and reduced his deficit.
3:5. Despite some hesitant plays, Yannick took the game on his serve.
3:6. Breakthrough! Grigor cannot show his aggressive game that brought him success in the previous matches. His service did not make it difficult enough for the opponent, who with deep returns and a stable game during the exchange of shots reached 2 set points. Dimitrov saved the first with an ace, but in the second the passing shot of the Italian was unsalvageable.
HOW DOES HE DO THAT ????
Top notch, @janniksin #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/uscOBmYTGr
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 31, 2024
II set
1:2. Both took their serves, with Dimitrov able to hold his own despite serious pressure. Some attractive performances that definitely livened up the crowd. Among the important guests is Shakira.
1:3. Breakthrough! Grigor Dimitrov once again showed off his amazing one-handed backhand, but on the other side of the net there seemed to be a ball distribution machine. Siner’s pressure forced Dimitrov to make mistakes and lose his serve.
1:4. The Australian outdoor champion is proving that he is in great form and is not slowing down. Grigor’s individual attractive points cannot turn things around.
1:5. Breakthrough! The tone in Grigor’s game, to the extent that it was there, is gone, and Siner is all over the court. The Bulgarian tennis player made a mistake at the net, which probably showed that he does not believe in a reversal.
1:6. Game, set and match Yannick Siner. The Italian did not lose a point in the game, and on match point Dimitrov did not even try to reach the ball.
Shakira, Shakira ????@shakira #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/046Gnl56lI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 31, 2024
Shakira, Shakira ????@shakira #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/046Gnl56lI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 31, 2024