Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev made to work for their wins
Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev both overcame sluggish starts to move into the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.
Fourth seed Dimitrov dropped the opening set before finding his rhythm to claim a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory in one hour and 50 minutes over Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
Put it in the books, @GrigorDimitrov. The No.4 seed passes a difficult test from Pierre-Hugues Herbert to emerge with the 3-6 6-2 6-4 victory. ??#RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/pam1jsks36
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 17, 2018
Frenchman Herbert made an excellent start by breaking twice in the opening set, but the roles were reversed in the second as Dimitrov levelled it at one set each.
The Bulgarian initially had the upper hand in the third set as he broke to go 3-2 up, but Herbert hit back immediately to make it 3-3 only for the world No 5 to claim the decisive break in the next game.
Next up for Dimitrov is a third-round clash against either Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Tennys Sandgren in his opening match, or 15th seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
Zverev, meanwhile, beat Gilles Muller 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
The Germany actually had the early advantage as he broke the man from Luxembourg in the seventh game, but he then lost back-to-back service games as Muller took the first set.
Zverev, though, broke at the start of the second set and again in nine to make 1-1 and an early break in the decider saw him cruise to victory.
David Goffin also advanced as the sixth seed from Belgium beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7-4), 7-5.
Latest
-
NewsUS Open day five: Evans through while teenage stars produce major upsets
Carlos Alcaraz and Leylah Fernandez, both 18, beat men’s and women’s third seeds Stefanos Tsitsipas and Naomi Osaka respectively.
-
News‘I don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match,’ says Naomi Osaka as she confirms she will take a break
Naomi Osaka lost to 18-year-old Leylah Fernandez.
-
NewsTeenager Leylah Fernandez after stunning Naomi Osaka at US Open: ‘I knew I was able to win’
Naomi Osaka served for the match in the second set but ultimately went down.
-
NewsStefanos Tsitsipas hits back at criticism over toilet breaks: ‘I took my toilet break like a normal athlete’
Tsitsipas had come under fire for the timing and length of his toilet breaks.
-
NewsDan Evans inspired by former Australia cricket captain’s Ricky Ponting’s ‘motivational’ autobiography
Dan Evans defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in five sets.
-
News‘To beat Stefanos Tsitsipas is a dream come true for me,’ says Carlos Alcaraz after stunning US Open win
Carlos Alcaraz recovered from losing the fourth set to love to win a deciding tie-break.
-
NewsDan Evans ‘proud’ after producing brilliant comeback to beat Alexei Popyrin in five-setter at US Open
Dan Evans trailed by two sets to love against Alexei Popyrin
-
NewsSimona Halep battles through at US Open as Victoria Azarenka falls
Simona Halep will take confidence from three-set win.
-
US Open‘Strong and calm’ Simona Halep holds off Elena Rybakina to end recent US Open fourth-round jinx
Simona Halep back in the fourth round of the US Open.
-
US Open‘Mature’ Emma Raducanu told what to expect from ‘very solid and very tough’ Sara Sorribes Tormo
“It is an amazing tournament for her.”