By Erik Gudris | Sunday, June 15, 2014

 

Saving a match point, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov won his third title of the year at Queen's Club in a tense three set final against Feliciano Lopez.

Photo Credit: AP

Once a former wildcard at the event, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov now can call himself Queen's Club champion.

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That's due to Dimitrov coming up the victor in a tense three set final against Spain's Feliciano Lopez at the Aegon Championships in London. Sunday's final was projected by many to be an entertaining contest and both men delivered on that promise with the finish nearly too close to call.

Once a former wildcard entrant at the event five years ago, Dimitrov entered this year's tournament as the fourth seed. While Dimitrov was in search of his first grass court title, Lopez was seeking his first title of the season.

The contrast between Lopez's natural serve and volley game versus the often-acrobatic style of Dimitrov produced engaging shot making from both men right from the start.

Lopez, despite battling during his service games, fended off two break points against him in the first set. Dimitrov's inability to break soon resulted in a tiebreak. Lopez, remaining steady at net, converted on his third set point when Dimitrov slipped attempting a passing shot. Lopez clinched the set 7-6(8).

As his girlfriend and new French Open champion Maria Sharapova watched from the stands, Dimitrov mounted his comeback in the second set.

With Lopez still solid while serving and volleying, it often frustrated Dimitrov who began pressing on his shots. That soon culminated in a match point for Lopez up 6-5 in the second set on Dimitrov's serve. Lopez though would net what would have been a winning forehand return.

A now energized Dimitrov, emboldened by finding himself still in the match, suddenly got hot. With winner after winner, Dimitrov soon ran away with the resulting tiebreak 7-6(1).

Dimitrov's momentum stalled though at the start of the deciding set. Despite going up 40-0 on his serve, Dimitrov got careless on a few shots with the game going to deuce. Now with a break point, Lopez punched a forehand volley winner for 1-0.

Lopez, sensing the title might be his, calmly held serve right up to 4-3. But with Dimitrov showing more theatrics in the next game, including with a diving forehand winner, Lopez tightened up. A tense double fault from the Spaniard put Dimitrov right back in the set at 4-all. Befitting the high quality contest, a final set tiebreak ensued a few games later to determine the winner.

With both men unable to place a return on the other's serve, who would blink first became the question. Lopez would first when he netted a routine slice backhand at 5-all.

Now with a match point, Dimitrov shanked a forehand to keep Lopez in it. Dimitrov would get another match point with a well-placed serve. He wouldn't need to hit another winner though as Lopez would net a final forehand.

With that, Dimitrov fell to the ground in celebration of the 6-7(8), 7-6(1), 7-6(6) victory.

"This is tennis. You have to accept. And I will have a chance next week. Not much to say when you lose like this. But you guys were great support," a disappointed Lopez said afterwards.

"It's been amazing playing here every year," said Dimitrov, "Really happy to get through that match."

Queen's Club is now Dimitrov's first ever grass court title and his third overall ATP title this season having won earlier in Acapulco and Bucharest.