The best Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov qualified for the semifinals of the tennis tournament in Rotterdam of the ATP 500 series after a difficult success over Alexander Shevchenko of Kazakhstan with 7:6 (2), 3:6, 6:4 in a match that lasted almost two hours . Thus, Dimitrov will defend his points from last year, when he again reached the semi-finals, where he lost to future winner Daniil Medvedev 1:6, 2:6. This is the fourth semifinal overall for the Bulgarian, who also played in the final in Rotterdam in 2018, losing to the legend Roger Federer with 2:6, 2:6.
In the first set, both were holding their serve, and it was a tiebreak. Dimitrov served first and led consistently, but Shevchenko also served very well and managed to take three games to zero.
The Bulgarian tennis player relied on his greater experience in the tiebreak and managed to make a mini breakthrough for 2:1, and then lead with 4:1. Haskovlia made another small break for 5:2, and then ended the part with two serves of her own.
In the second set, Shevchenko led 1:0 and already in the second game she reached a break point, which she immediately converted. He continued to pitch very confidently. It came down to a hotly contested ninth game in which the Kazakhstan player served for the set. Shevchenko quickly took a 40:15 lead, but missed two set points, and the Bulgarian equalized with some very attractive and effective performances. Dimitrov reached two break points for the first time in the match, but he also missed them. Shevchenko managed to win the set only on her fifth set point after making another ace.
In the third set, things also went to a tiebreak, with everyone taking their serve until 5:4 for Dimitrov. In the decisive tenth game, the Bulgarian made the first break in the match at zero, relying on his experience and greater class in the plays.
Shevchenko made twice as many aces in the match – 15 to 8 for Dimitrov, and had more winning shots – 22 to 14. Grigor also made more unprovoked errors, but won more points on first serve and on his returns.
It was Grigor Dimitrov’s first win over Shevchenko, whom they had never met at the Tour.
“I played definitely poorly today, I didn’t have fun. I don’t know what to say, I made a lot of unprovoked mistakes. At the same time, he’s a great opponent, I’ve played against him in the pre-season, he’s always at a high level. He serves in an incredible way, that’s one of the best serves I’ve played against recently. Hopefully tomorrow I can raise my level. I love to play on the weekend and I’m grateful that I can play at that time for two weeks in a row,” Dimitrov commented after the success.
In the semifinals, Dimitrov will be waiting for the winner of the match between the second ranked Andrey Rublev (Russia) and the Australian Alex De Minor, who is ranked number 5.
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