New York City — In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov defeated Russia’s Andrey Rublev in a gruelling five-set showdown on Sunday to secure his place in the U.S. Open quarterfinals for the first time since 2019.
The ninth seed Dimitrov triumphed with a scoreline of 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3, showcasing resilience and determination against the sixth-seeded Rublev. Dimitrov dominated with his powerful serve, winning 80 percent of his first-serve points and firing 17 aces, which frustrated Rublev throughout the encounter.
The tension was palpable at Arthur Ashe Stadium as Rublev’s frustration became evident. The Russian player slammed his racket against the court and even against himself, leading to a cut on his wrist that required medical attention in the first set.
The match swung in Dimitrov’s favor early on when Rublev double-faulted twice in the fourth game of the first set. Dimitrov capitalized on the errors, breaking Rublev’s serve and setting the tone for the intense battle that followed.
Despite Dimitrov’s early lead, Rublev fought back fiercely, taking the third and fourth sets to level the match. However, Dimitrov remained composed, explaining after the match, "The steal of the second set really helped me to keep on believing and to keep on trusting in my game and in my body. After the first couple of sets he started playing amazing. I mean, there’s not much else I could have done, so I had to pull the reins back a little bit and wait for an opportunity. It happened in the fifth."
The decisive fifth set saw Dimitrov seize the momentum, much to the delight of the New York crowd, which included tennis legend Serena Williams enjoying the event’s signature honey deuce cocktail. Dimitrov’s victory was sealed with powerful serves and strategic play, ending Rublev’s comeback attempt.
"It was very challenging," Dimitrov added. "I think that was the big difference today. After that, I ran with the match."
Dimitrov’s win propels him into the next round, where fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see if he can continue his impressive run at this year’s U.S. Open.
Reference(s):
Dimitrov outlasts Rublev to punch U.S. Open quarterfinals ticket
cgtn.com
