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By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, August 9, 2018

 
Grigor Dimitrov

Battling back from a break down, Grigor Dimitrov edged Frances Tiafoe, 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (4), to reach his sixth quarterfinal of the season.

Photo credit: Christopher Levy

Arriving in Toronto aiming to regain his confidence, a defiant Grigor Dimitrov is reconstructing competitive character.

Fighting back from a break down in the final set and 2-4 deficit in the decisive tie break, Dimitrov edged Frances Tiafoe, 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-6 (4), to advance to his sixth quarterfinal of the season in Toronto.

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"I just kept on playing my game and, of course, believing towards the end," Dimitrov said. "I know in moments like that it can get tough for whoever. I feel like I can defense well when I have to and attack in the same time.

"When I can, you know, find a way to turn the point around, it's great. Also I was playing against the wind till 4-1, so it was pretty hard to generate a good pace or, you know, to use my slice better. So I was just trying to manage that, obviously just win my service, my service points."

This first clash between explosive shotmakers was a tense test with Tiafoe breaking to open the final set and moving to within three points of his first Masters quarterfinal before a netted forehand cost him dearly in the breaker.

Competing with grit, Dimitrov relied on his variety, defense and some timely strikes to prevail in his second third-set tie break of the week.

The 27-year-old Bulgarian rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5) triumph over nemesis Fernando Verdasco in the first round.

Digging down deep again today, Dimitrov posted back-to-back wins for the first time since Roland Garros.

The fifth-seeded Dimitrov will play Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson for a semifinal spot. The fourth-seeded Anderson defeated Belarusian qualifier Ilya Ivashka, 7-5, 6-3.




"Clearly I'm not playing my best tennis, but I'm finding a way and managing to go through those matches, and I think I'm improving," Dimitrov told the media in Toronto. "With each game, with each point that I play, I feel more confident, more stable on the court, and everything falls into its place. So hopefully that's a great step forward for me."

Empowered by his win over Milos Raonic yesterday, Tiafoe hit the ball cleaner than Dimitrov for much of the match, won one more point in the match (107 to 106) and was in position to close, but blinked in the breaker.

Playing closer to the baseline at the outset, Tiafoe scored the first break for 3-2.

A sloppy sixth game cost Tiafoe the break.

Playing more proactive points, Dimitrov started stepping into the court and driving his forehand with greater authority.

The lanky Bulgarian banged his third ace capping a love hold for 5-4.

Showing fast reflexes and soft hands at net, Tiafoe nudged an angled backhand volley to force the first-set tie break.

A forehand volley winner and crackling crosscourt forehand put Dimitrov up 5-0. The ATP Finals chmpion closed the 52-minute opener on his opponent's error.

Connecting on more first serves and controlling the center of the court, Tiafoe turned the tables in the second set.

Feeling the stress, Dimitrov double-faulted away the first break of the second set and a 4-2 lead. The 41st-ranked Tiafoe thumped successive aces to back up the break at love.

An ace brought Tiafoe to set point in the ninth game and he exploited immediately exterminating an inside-out forehand.




Amping up his serve, Tiafoe won 95 percent of his first-serve points taking the second set.

A sluggish Dimitrov was blitzed in the opening game of the final set. Tiafoe flicked a forehand return crosscourt for triple break point. Drilling another deep return, the American provoked a framed forehand breaking at love to open.

Serving up 2-1 in the decider, Tiafoe inexplicably tightened, netting a shot off his back foot then tossing in his fourth double fault as Dimitrov leveled the set.

The clock cost Dimitrov, who exceeded the 25-second serve clock then belted a ball into the stands in frustration before arguing his case briefly with supervisor Lars Graff, seated in the corner of the court.

That kerfuffle sparked some spunk in Dimitrov who slid an ace to save break point, eventually holding for 3-2.

Zapping an ace, Dimitrov earned his 10th straight service point holding for 5-4.

Staring down break point at five-all, Dimitrov threw down his 10th ace to save it but pushed a backhand into net to face another break point.

Again, Dimitrov answered sliding a serve winner wide. Knocking off successive volleys, the fifth seed held for 6-5.

Tiafoe stood tall working through a stressful hold pushing the proceedings into a final tie break.

At the two hour, twenty-two minute mark, Big Foe went big and bold cranking a crosscourt forehand for the mini break and a 3-2 lead.




Holding a 4-2 lead, Tiafoe was up quickly to a forehand, but rushed it and slapped the shot into net.

Grabbing the lifeline, Dimitrov lashed a backhand pass and landed a serve down the T for 5-4.

Following a forehand forward, Dimitrov held his ground at net nudging away a blast at the body for set point. When Tiafoe netted one final backhand, Dimitrov was through in two hours, 26 minutes.

 

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