By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Grigor Dimitrov defeated Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a roaring comeback to reach the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals vs. Nicolas Jarry.
Photo credit: Shi Tang/Getty
Playing catch-up against Carlos Alcaraz on a quick court can feel as daunting as trying to board a bullet train blurring by.
Deploying unsettling variety and fine forward thinking, Grigor Dimitrov derailed Alcaraz 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in a roaring comeback to reach the Rolex Shanghai Masters quarterfinals.
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The 19th-ranked Dimitrov defeated a Top 2-ranked opponent for the first time since he beat No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round of the 2021 Indian Wells.
Whipping the wide serve effectively, Dimitrov drilled two of his 10 aces serving out the match, won 14 of 18 trips to net and converted four of five break points in a two-hour, 10-minute triumph.
The former world No. 3 applied a simple game plan: play proactive tennis, mix the height and paces of shots and try to take it to Alcaraz whenever possible.
“I knew what I had to do against him,” Dimitrov said in his on-court interview. “I knew I had to apply constant pressure against him. Even if I was down, even if my shots were not good enough, I had to keep on putting him in uncomfortable positions. He’s a player that doesn’t like to be on the back foot, which player does, right?
“At the same time, I kept on using every opportunity I had. I was coming in a little bit and just try to put him in awkward positions, not just like a typical shot. I think also that rattled him a little bit and I think some of the errors in the third set came from that.”
This is Dimitrov’s first win in four meetings with Alcaraz and dents the second-ranked Spaniard’s hopes of surpassing Novak Djokovic to regain the world No. 1 ranking.
"I think he plays great," Alcaraz told the media in Shanghai. "He plays a great match since the beginning until the last ball, not up and downs in his game. Comparing to the matches that we have played before, you know, he was on another level today.
"So, congratulations to him, and, you know, I have to be better if I want to beat this Grigor."
The 20-year-old Spanish superstar had reached the quarterfinals or better in 13 of 14 tournament this season, posted a 25-4 record in Masters 1000 events and carried an imposing 52-3 record when winning the opening set in 2023.
None of that mattered much to Dimitrov, who dodged break points in his opening service game and broke first in all three sets beating Alcaraz for the first time in four meetings.
“I stayed in the match—I think that was the first thing especially after that first set,” said Dimitrov, who had lost serve in his opening service game in his prior three losses to Alcaraz. “I mean 5-4 I thought I was serving very well throughout the whole set. He made a few errors, which I pushed him into a lot of errors in certain moments. But then I don’t know what happened at 5-4 he played an amazing game at 5-all and another amazing game at 6-5 so I was creating a lot of opportunities and I kept on believing I’m gonna get another one and another one.
“I think after that second break in the second set, I think I finally started to understand a little bit more of his service games so I was able to put quite a few returns in. I was able to read the game a little bit better and I think in the third set it was just a little bit of cat and mouse to be honest. I think we both played solid set. He made a few errors in the third. I stayed very solid and well when I had to.”
After after falling on the seat of his shorts for a sliding volley and losing an electrifying exchange at net to the top seed, Dimitrov rose up and finished his finest win of the year.
Continuing his quest for his first title since he went undefeated winning the 2017 ATP Finals at London’s O2 Arena, Dimitrov will face big-hitting Nicolas Jarry for a semifinal spot.
The 22nd-seeded Chilean defeated Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Jarry fired 15 aces against no double faults and saved three of four break points.
Dumping a couple of double faults into net in his opening service game, Dimitrov dug out of break-point trouble with an ace out wide.
That escape emboldened Dimitrov to play a bit more pro actively. A sharp-angled backhand earned the Bulgarian a break point in the fifth game.
Running around his backhand, Dimitrov blasted a forehand return winner down the line drawing first-break blood for 3-2.
Through nine games, Dimitrov was near-flawless at net. Serving for the set, he got a dose of Alcaraz’s superb net skills.
Extending the rally with a stretched forehand volley down the line, Alcaraz darted to his left to carve a captivating backhand drop volley winner. Fooled by an Alcaraz lob, Dimitrov improvised a two-handed backhand over the shoulder defensive shot to extend the point, but Alcaraz had an answer.
The top seed coaxed a backhand error breaking back to level after 10 games.
Serving to extend the set, Dimitrov hit his third double fault then scattered a forehand wide to face double set point.
On his second set point, Alcaraz provoked an errant forehand to seize a one-set lead on a four-game run.
The bad news for the Bulgarian: He played the Wimbledon winner on equal terms for much of the set and still trailed by a set losing all seven sets against Alcaraz.
The worse news for Dimitrov: Alcaraz owned a 52-3 record when winning the opening set this season.
Whipping a forehand deep into the corner, Dimitrov broke to start the second set, snapping his four-game slide. Working through a challenging deuce hold, Dimitrov backed up the break for a 2-0 second-set lead.
Former world No. 3 Dimitrov had been serving primarily wide on the ad side until he switched it up bolting a serve down the T to seal a love hold for 4-2.
The oldest man still standing in the Shanghai singles field torched an inside-out forehand that eluded the speedy Spaniard for another break point. Dimitrov skimmed a forehand off the top of the tape scoring his third break to stretch the lead to 5-2.
The 32-year-old Dimitrov served out the second set to force a decider after 87 minutes. It was the first set Dimitrov won against Alcaraz.
A tremendous running forehand strike down the line helped Dimitrov earn the first break point of the final set. Alcaraz opted to serve-and-volley but shoveled a backhand volley long ceding the break and a 2-1 lead to the Bulgarian.
Rapping his seventh ace out wide, Dimitrov consolidated at 15 for 3-1 after one hour, 47 minutes.
Festering frustration erupted in Alcaraz as he uncharacteristically screamed out in angst as Dimitrov held for 4-2.
"Probably I had to just start the second set better. I feel I made a few mistakes in the first game that I shouldn't do that," Alcaraz told the media in Shanghai. "That's the truth. You know, it was a little bit surprise for me as well, the way that he started the second set, after, let's say, a tough first set for him. As I said, he didn't make up and downs in his game. You know, after a really good first set, he started really well the second set and, you know, he kept really well, that level that intensity, during the second set and the third set. He didn't let me put my game on the match.
"I was all the time, you know, fighting to find a way to, you know, put the match on my own game, but I couldn't. I think that was the key of the match. I was all the time defending, I couldn't find the other way to put myself in a position to attack."
Edged in forehand exchanges in his prior three straight-set losses to the Spaniard, Dimitrov fired his forehand with menacing intent. Cranking a diagonal forehand winner, the Bulgarian held for 5-3 and was four points from the quarterfinals.
Serving for the match, Dimitrov opened with his ninth ace. Slashing his 10th ace out wide brought Dimitrov double match point.
On his second match point, Dimitrov slammed down a smash closing one of his finest performances of the year.
After a respectful embrace, Dimitrov erupted in a primal celebratory scream.