Dimitrov Earns Tough, Memorable 40th Win Of Season At Shanghai Masters

Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov (photo: Brigitte Urban)

SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 8, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

The 100th ATP Masters event of Grigor Dimitrov‘s career, at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, has been a tough but memorable one. First, the World No. 10 Dimitrov was extended to three sets by Belgian Zizou Bergs that required three days to complete because of rain delays. Then, on Tuesday, the 33-year-old Bulgarian was dealt a challenging third-round opponent in 20th seed Alexei Popyrin of Australia, who defeated him in the third round at Montreal two months ago.

This time, Dimitrov overcame Popyrin, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in an hour and 28 minutes on Show Court 3 at Qi Zhong Tennis Center for his 40th win of the season. He won 97 percent of his first-serve points, dropping just one of 34 points to advance to Wednesday’s fourth round.

After he was forced to retire from his US Open quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe last month, Dimitrov’s attitude has been to take matters one day at a time. So far, so good in Shanghai.

“One day at a time at the moment for me,” Dimitrov said, smiling, in his post-match interview. “There’s been so many things that have been moving around, and at the same time I’m very thankful to be out here again. At the same time, putting matches together under my belt, back-to-back, is very important for me.” 

Dimitrov hit 18 winners, made just six unforced errors and outpointed Popyrin 72-53.

“It’s also a lot much fun when I’m starting to enjoy the game again,” Dimitrov added, “especially when the body feels a little bit better, when the fans are around and all that. You get that energy, get that momentum, you try to gather it from everything around you.”

Next, Dimitrov, who is learning the value of patience, will face 65th-ranked #NextGenATP rising star Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic. Mensik won his third straight three-set match of the tournament, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2, over No. 58 Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan, needing an hour and 56 minutes to triumph.

Mensik, who has compiled a 22-15 win-loss record at tour-level, was asked during his post-match interview what has been his biggest improvement over last year. “Everything. Of course, because, you know, when you want to be better, you have to improve in everything,” he said.

“Of course, it’s very hard, you know, to play against these big guys, and even I’m still 19, you know, so, of course, physical way, point of view. Of course, because, couple of months ago, I was playing against juniors, you know, and the level is completely different than this one. So, I’m very glad that last year we improved a lot in the physical way. Of course, in the mental way as well, because, you know, it’s very hard sometimes.”

Djokovic remains in pursuit of 100th tour-level title

Four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic continued his bid to capture his 100th tour-level title on Tuesday evening on Stadium Court. The 37-year-old Serbian dominated 29th seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy, 6-1, 6-2, in their first meeting.

Djokovic, who reached an ATP Masters fourth round for this second time this season, won 83 percent of his service points, hit 19 winners and converted four of his nine break-point chances against Cobolli. The 30th-ranked Italian, just 22, managed just six winners and made 26 unforced errors. It all added up to Djokovic’s 34th win of the season In just his 42nd match of 2024.

“From the beginning I had a clear game plan of what I needed to do, staying aggressive and trying to use every short ball to take the initiative in the point,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “Cobolli was evidently exhausted after last night’s match [against Stan Wawrinka]. I think that has taken a toll, physically, on him today.

“I haven’t played too many matches, I think the positive in that is that I’m fresh, so I am happy to play every day [for] as long as it takes.”

Next, Djokovic will play No. 61 Roman Safiullin of Russia, who upset No. 13 Frances Tiafoe of the United States, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5). The Russia struck 51 winners and came back from down a set and a break to win the three-hour, four-minute tussle.

Zverev reaches ninth Masters 1000 fourth round this season

No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany improved to 5-1 lifetime against 40th-ranked Tallon Griekspoor, after beating the Dutchman, 7-6 6), 2-6, 7-6 (5), in two hours and 48 minutes Tuesday evening on Stadium Court.

Zverev continued his perfect streak of reaching at least the round of 16 at all ATP Masters 1000 events this season. The World No. 3 improved to 23-6 in ATP Masters 1000 events this season, which includes winning the title in Rome.

“It was a tough match, going back and forth. I thought he was a bit lucky during the third set and I got very lucky in the tie-break, so we equaled each other out,” Zverev said during his on-court interview after winning his 59th match of 2024.

Zverev fired 11 aces, hit 44 overall winners to 33 unforced errors, and converted just one of 10 break points. He and Griekspoor (37 winners, 31 unforced errors) tied with 110 total points.

“It was an incredible match,” said Zverev, who praised Griekspoor. “He is someone that I always struggle against. We always have extremely tough matches and, for me, he should be a lot higher ranked than he is. He needs to look at why he is not playing like that every single week. He could be Top 15, Top 10 in the world.”

Next, Zverev plays David Goffin of Belgium. The 66th-ranked Belgian advanced to the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time since the 2022 Madrid Open after rallying back from a set deficit to overcome 47th-ranked American Marcos Giron, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Around the Rolex Shanghai Masters

In a rematch of last year’s second round, No. 7 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States advanced past 336th-ranked Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki, 6-3, 6-4, in 75 minutes on Stadium Court to reach the last 16 in Shanghai for the first time in his fifth try.

Fritz hit 23 overall winners — including 10 aces — to advance against 12th seed Holger Rune of Denmark. Rune eliminated 33rd-ranked Czech Jiri Lehecka, 6-4, 7-5, in an hour and 49 minutes.

“I think it’s going to be a very close match, could go either way,” Fritz said looking ahead to Wednesday’s showdown with Rune, their third in a Masters 1000 event. “But either way …  I’m going to be dealing with some big hitting, so I’ll be ready for that. That’s something that I’ve also gotten used to with the two matches I’ve already played, so it won’t be too different.”

Also, No. 10 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece set up a fourth-round showdown with No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev after defeating No. 74 Alexandre Muller of France, 6-3, 7-5, in an hour and 28 minutes on Stadium Court — a match that was delayed two days by rain. Tsitsipas hit 28 winners and converted four of seven break points against Muller. He outpointed his opponent 72-55.

Looking ahead, Tsitsipas’s Wednesday meeting with the World No. 5 from Russia will be their 14th. Medvedev has won nine of the first 13.

“Well, he’s someone that, you know, he likes courts like this. I feel like I’m getting better with time. I feel like I’ve developed some good shots over the last few weeks. So far, I’m happy with the way my tennis is showing,” Tsitsipas said during his post-match interview.

“What is missing is trying to get a good win under my belt, and that for sure will ensure and will redeem my efforts for so far of trying to get better. My whole goal is to get out there, play the best tennis that I can, and let the rest be done on their own.”

Elsewhere, in an all-French third-round match, No. 46 Gaël Monfils upset 16th seed Ugo Humbert, 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-1. At age 38, Monfils became the second-oldest player to reach the round of 16 in Shanghai history, behind Roger Federer.

“It’s never easy to play Ugo, he’s really aggressive, playing fast off both wings and takes a lot of time from you,” Monfils said after earning his 24th victory of the season. Next, he faces third seed Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, whom he beat at Cincinnati in three sets last August. “Carlos is playing really well now, he’s in a confident mood having just won a tournament. So, that’s going to be a tough one for sure.”

Other third round winners: Fourteenth seed Ben Shelton of the United States won 6-3, 6-4 over No. 54 Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain, behind eight aces and 24 winners to advance against World No. 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy; and No. 30 seed Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic defeated 91st-ranked Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic of Australia, 6-4, 6-2, and will now face No. 11 seed Tommy Paul of the United States.

Tuesday’s Rolex Shanghai Masters results

Wednesday’s Rolex Shanghai Masters order of play 

By the numbers

By earning his 40th win of the season today, Grigor Dimitrov has now won 40 or matches in back-to-back seasons for the first time in his career. He garnered 41 wins last season. Previously, Dimitrov had 40-plus win seasons in 2014 (50) and in 2017 (49).

“Quotable …”

“I’m like, very happy, because those performances that I’m playing right now, I feel like I’m in a good form now. So, it’s great that I can keep playing and keep reaching, you know, the wins. So, yeah, very happy with every win I get here because, yeah, of course, very important in this stage to play as much matches as I can, so, yeah, that’s perfect. I feel very confident, so really looking forward to next match.”

— #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik, 19, of the Czech Republic, during his post-match interview, on his third-straight three-set win in Shanghai.

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