2024-03-30 22:53:00
ROMA. Between Jannik Sinner and the second place in the ATP ranking stay alone Grigor Dimitrov. ‘Solo’, however, is an understatement, because the current world number 12 promises to be a worthy opponent in the Miami Open final. After getting rid of number 2, Carlos Alcaraz, defeated in the quarterfinals with a peremptory 6-2 6-4, in the semifinal the Bulgarian collected another prestigious trophy by beating Alexander Zverev (number 5) in three sets: 6-4, 6 -7 (4/7), 6-4.
At 32, he will try to win the second Masters 1000, after Cincinnati in 2017. The presence in the final will bring this right-hander with the elegant backhand back into the Top 10 from Monday, for the first time since 2018. Dimitrov had lost the last seven matches in face-to-face face Zverev, beating him only in 2014, when the German was 14 years old. At the beginning of his career they called him ‘little Federer’. Those were the days when he won the 2008 Wimbledon and US Open junior titles. Possessing a magical touch at the net and a vast technical repertoire, once he grew up he did not keep his promises, living through sporting ups and downs, also due to recurring back problems. If he has a ‘yes’ day it is very dangerous. Against Sinner he won the first direct clash in 2020 at the Foro Italico (match played behind closed doors), but lost the next two last year (in Miami and Beijing). For Sinner it will be the third time in the final Sunday of the Masters 1000 in Miami (in 2021 he lost to Hurkacz, last year to Medvedev). He will face this one with the shield of a new awareness: “I hope to be able to lift the biggest trophy, otherwise it will still have been a great week. The first one I wasn’t able to sleep – he said after the last success over Medvedev – it was of a new emotion and I didn’t know if it would be repeated. Last year I was already more relaxed. Now I am a different tennis player, more ready, more complete and confident. I go through finals telling myself, ‘enjoy the moment’.
Dimitrov also believes in it: “The work is not finished, the best thing is the consistency I have found in being able to beat the strongest players. In the last 8-12 months I have changed gear, but I am still angry about some lost matches: I have not I gave up and continued working. I gave myself small weekly goals and for me it’s a victory every time I wake up and can train without feeling pain.”
Serena Williams she was the guest of honor at the semi-finals in Miami. And at the end of the match the American legend wanted it compliment Sinner: “The speed of the racket, the power… you are incredible – the winner of 23 Slam titles crowned it – I would have liked to have your forehand”.
“I had never spoken to her, it was special for me to exchange a few words with a champion like that – the Italian then said – When I started on the tour she was about to end her career, I didn’t have the opportunity to be in contact with her. It was a great pleasure to meet her.”
2024-03-30 22:53:00