Grigor Dimitrov hasn’t had it easy on the ATP Tour in recent times but does his quarter-final appearance at Indian Wells bode well for the future?
In California, the Bulgarian scored impressive straight sets wins against the likes of Australian Jordan Thompson, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik (Andy Murray’s conqueror) and American John Isner.
There he came unstuck in straight sets himself to a more superior and polished Andrey Rublev.
However, this was a much better tournament than anticipated for Dimitrov, after he crashed out in poor fashion just last month at Acapulco in the opening round to American Stefan Kozlov.
The turnaround is remarkable.
This is a former world number three we are talking about. A man who stood at the pinnacle of his career in 2017 after winning the ATP Tour Finals.
Now there is fresh hope and optimism from Dimitrov’s faithful that he can again mount a serious challenge this season.
The top of men’s tennis appears to possess a power vacuum, with so many of the sport’s stars out of form, injured or absent.
Roger Federer, and now Rafa Nadal, after his cracked rib injury in the final of Indian Wells, are on the sidelines.
Novak Djokovic’s refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine means that he was barred from entry to the United States and thus unable to compete in some of his favourite tournaments, such as Indian Wells and Miami, where he has previously enjoyed a lot of success.
World number one for three weeks, Daniil Medvedev has experienced a huge dip in form after surprisingly losing at the round of 32 stage, to Frenchman Gaël Monfils,in the Californian desert.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev are both yet to win a title this season, and suffered recent shocks in the opening Masters 1000 of the year, losing to American’s Jenson Brooksby and Tommy Paul, respectively.
Matteo Berrettini continues to be plagued by injury issues and was upset by Miomir Kecmanović in California.
All of which has given Dimitrov a fabulous opportunity to go far at the Miami Open and take full advantage of his rivals’ recent slip ups and drop in confidence.
Will #bulgarian @GrigorDimitrov
— James Spencer (@jspencer28) March 24, 2022continue his good form at the @MiamiOpen
after impressing at #IndianWells on his way to the quarter-finals stage. My article on Grigor will be up on @Ubitennis @UbiTennisEng shortly #GrigorDimitrov #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/A4M4OSbIpy
He opens his campaign on Friday against Mackenzie McDonald of the United States.
The world number 54 beat Germany’s Dominik Koepfer 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 6-4 to set up the round of 64 meeting with Dimitrov.
At 30 years old, nearly 31 in May, the sun might soon be setting on the Bulgarian’s career.
But with a possible meeting with Zverev or Borna Coric on the horizon, is the Miami Masters the stage where Dimitrov will finally come of age.
