By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 19, 2016
Grigor Dimitrov denied a set point in the tie break stopping Steve Johnson, 7-6 (8), 6-2, in Cincinnati to reach his third career Masters semifinal.
Photo credit: Western & Southern Open
Darting to his left, Grigor Dimitrov stabbed a slick backhand pass down the line that drew a thumbs-up from Steve Johnson.
The shot reinforced a lesson Dimitrov has learned during this season of struggle: Sometimes a quick strike can jolt a player out of a sustained slide.
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Dimitrov denied a set point in the tie break and delivered sharp shot-making in the second set to stop Johnson, 7-6 (8), 6-2, and sprint into the Cincinnati semifinals.
The 25-year-old Bulgarian avenged a 6-7 (6), 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-2 loss to Johnson in the Wimbledon third round last month and backed up his sweep of second-seeded Stan Wawrinka yesterday.
It is Dimitrov's third career Masters semifinal and first in two years. He reached the final four in Rome and Toronto in 2014.
Spinning his wheels through a six-match losing streak from May 1 to June 27th, Dimitrov suffered cracked confidence, coaching splits and racquet-smashing eruptions.
The 34th-ranked Bulgarian has picked up the pieces and is making progress in recent weeks.
Dimitrov reached the Toronto quarterfinals where he took a set from sixth-ranked Kei Nishikori.
In his last two Masters events, Dimitrov has posted more wins (7-1 record) than he did in the first five Masters tournaments of the season (3-5 record).
Still, he's not ready to call this run a turning point... yet.
"I don't want to talk about any (turning) corners or anything, but things seem to be in the right way right now," Dimitrov said. "I'm playing good tennis. Been working well; on a good path.
"All these things are for sure adding up, and I just want to make sure I keep doing it now every week. Every tournament that I enter is to win every match and fight and just get out there every day and give your best."
Johnson's victory over 10th-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga yesterday ensures he will surpass world No. 22 John Isner as the new American No. 1 when the new rankings are released on Monday
Making his Masters quarterfinal debut, Johnson showed little signs of nerves but escalating wear from his run to the Rio doubles bronze medal last week. As the second set progressed, Johnson's decision-making and shot-selection grew a bit murkier.
In the opener, Johnson served 77 percent and did not face a break point. Dimitrov saved the lone break point of the set in the third game, winning an extended rally and eventually holding for 2-1.
One of Dimitrov's biggest obstacles this season is establishing clarity on court. Like a multi-instrumentalist, Dimitrov can hit the high notes on virtually any shot, but sometimes looks lost plotting points that play to his all-court strengths.
Too often, he's drawn into extended rallies and can get defensive overplaying his slice backhand.
Johnson saved two set points in the tie break then Dimitrov denied a set point drawing a backhand error for 8-all. A smash gave Dimitrov a third set point and deep reaction return off a tough serve coaxed the error as Dimitrov took the 50-minute opener.
Dimitrov's stretching stab backhand pass down the line was followed by Johnson putting a forehand into net as Dimitrov broke to open the second set.
Dimitrov consolidated at love, broke again for a 4-1 advantage and never looked back.
Afterward Dimitrov said coach Dani Vallverdu, who previously worked with Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray, is trying to bring "simplicity" to his game and practices.
"We're just looking at the big picture," Dimitrov said. "Yes, it's a great week. Yes, I'm playing good. That's not the ultimate goal. Just a result of what we have been doing.
"I think it's actually a very good way to look at tennis that way. I feel the same way. I think that helps us to sort of get out there on the court and structure the right way of practicing, the right amount of work, and what needs to be done. That's how you put yourself in the best position to play a match. I think that's a good way to look at things."
Two years ago, Dimitrov knocked off reigning champion Murray in an impressive straight-sets Wimbledon quarterfinal conquest and took a set off then world No. 2 Novak Djokovic before bowing in a tight four-set Wimbledon semifinal.
That run inspired speculation, Dimitrov could channel all-court grace into a Grand Slam run.
That has not happened, but his Cincinnati surge will help Dimitrov secure a seeding at this month's US Open. He lost to Mikhail Kukushkin in the Open second round last year and has failed to survive the second round in four of five Flushing Meadows appearances.
"I mean, my only goal was to get seeded for New York, and then I would for sure think about the rest of the year," Dimitrov said. "I mean, if you win, everything else comes with it. It's so simple. As I said, I've been just practicing a lot.
"I'm not going to lie. I've been just practicing. Just dug myself like right into tennis. I haven't been actually able to follow anything else but that and what I had to focus each day out on the court.I think it's fine for now. Like I'm happy the way I'm playing for sure. There is still a lot to go. If I keep playing like this, for sure the ranking is going to get even higher."
Former world No. 8 Dimitrov will face 12th-seeded Marin Cilic for a spot in the final.
In today's all-Croatian quarterfinal, Cilic held a 6-2 lead over 19-year-old Borna Coric when his Davis Cup teammate retired. Cilic crushed Dimitrov, 6-1, 6-4, in the opening round of the Rio Olympics.