Grigor Dimitrov one win away from ending six-year title drought

ATP Tour

James Richardson
May 26, 2023

Former top ten star Grigor Dimitrov is just one match away from ending his six-year ATP Tour title drought.

At the Geneva Open on Friday, second-seeded Taylor Fritz was upset by Dimitrov 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(2) to end an 11-match losing run in tour-level semifinals and move within one victory of a title.

Dimitrov had to dig deep to secure his first Top 10 victory of the year in an exciting match at the ATP 250 clay-court event.

After two hours and 52 minutes, the 32-year-old turned the tables with his spectacular shotmaking.

Dimitrov displayed his tremendous agility to cling on to points and wouldn’t allow the American to kill off the contest.

Fritz had appeared in control of the encounter early on but his frustration grew as Dimitrov refused to be beaten.

“It was a crazy match. I am very pleased with the way I fought and the fans were amazing today,” Dimitrov said.

“It feels great [to reach the final] but the job is not over. I don’t take any matches lightly. I came here with a purpose and I intend to finish it up tomorrow.”

Dimitrov is vying for his first tour-level victory since winning the ATP Finals in 2017.

The championship match will feature Nicolas Jarry and the Bulgarian, who has climbed four positions to No 29 in the ATP Live Rankings.

Dimitrov is in the final for the first time since Rotterdam in 2018 after claiming his 15th tour-level victory of the year. He defeated Christopher O’Connell in three sets earlier this week and followed that up with a win over Roberto Carballes Baena in straight sets in the last eight.

Jarry defeated Alexander Zverev 7-6(3), 6-3 in the second semi-final of the day to book a place in his sixth ATP Tour final.

The Chilean, who advanced to the semifinals by defeating defending champion Casper Ruud, displayed strong serving against German Zverev, who was seeded third.

Jarry won 90% (43/48) of points on his first serve and did not face a break point as he progressed to his second final of the year.

“I have been playing good tennis and working a lot,” Jarry said. “To be able to play like this against Casper [Ruud] and today against Sascha, I am so happy with all the work.”

Jarry is out to win his third tour-level title and second of the season, having triumphed on clay in Santiago.

The 27-year-old, currently No. 40 in the ATP Live Rankings, also reached the championship match in Geneva in 2019, before falling to the man he beat in the last four this term.

Grigor Dimitrov