(Provided by Tennis World USA)
World no. 33 Grigor Dimitrov asked for the ATP 250 Geneva wild card, eager for more matches ahead of Roland Garros. The Bulgarian made the best choice, beating three rivals and advancing to his first ATP final since Rotterdam 2018!
Grigor faced a top-10 rival Taylor Fritz in the semi-final and prevailed 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 in two hours and 52 minutes for a place in the title clash
. The American led 6-3, 4-2 before the Bulgarian performed his comeback, prevailing in the second set’s closing stages and winning the deciding tie break to emerge at the top.
Taylor fired 13 aces and welcomed ten double faults from his opponent. The American claimed eight points more, but not the crucial ones, squandering his advantage in the second set and failing to build it again in the decider.
Grigor seized four out of eight break points and defended nine out of 13 to remain in contention until the tie break.
Grigor Dimitrov prevailed against Taylor Fritz in Geneva.
Fritz made a flying start, delivering two commanding holds and a couple of breaks for 4-0!
Dimitrov squandered game points at 0-1 and fell on the third break point when Fritz forced his mistake. The Bulgarian wasted multiple game points at 0-3 and fell 4-0 behind after the American’s volley winner at the net from a challenging position.
Grigor pulled one break back in game five to get his name on the scoreboard and denied three break points in the next one for his first hold of the duel. Taylor served well in games seven and nine and wrapped up the opener with an ace at 5-3.
The Bulgarian made a slow start to the second set as well. However, he saved break points this time and avoided chasing the result. Fritz finally broke him in game five with a forced error and landed an ace a few minutes later for 4-2.
Grigor raised his level from that moment, serving well and pulling the break back in game eight with a smash winner at the net. They served well in the next three games, and Taylor had to repeat that at 5-6. Grigor passed him with a backhand down the line winner for a break at 15, wrapping up the set 7-5 and introducing a decider.
They traded early breaks in games two and three and settled into a fine rhythm in the rest of the set after Fritz defended a break point in game four. They went into a tie break, and Taylor sprayed a forehand error at 2-3 that would cost him dearly.
Grigor seized another mini-break for 5-2 and converted his first match point in the ninth point for a massive celebration.
Source: Tennis World USA
