Dimitrov advances in five-set thriller

WHAT HAPPENED: With a classic one-handed backhand and flowing game so elegant that he is dubbed “Baby Fed,” expectations have long weighed on the racquet of No. 22 Grigor Dimitrov. With so much talent, and with so many shots at his disposal, the 25-year-old Bulgarian must constantly resist the temptation to risk it all for a flashy winner rather than getting in a high-percentage shot.

In his come-from-behind victory against No. 55 Jeremy Chardy, however, Dimitrov had to call upon his entire arsenal to survive the five-set thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the second round on Thursday in the Old Grandstand/Practice Court 6.

In the first set, Dimitrov played some loose points to drop his opening service game, and the 25-year-old Bulgarian's frustration mounted as he continued to struggle. Dimitrov celebrated with a scream and fist pump when his stab volley winner leveled the set at 4-4, but the 29-year-old Frenchman immediately reclaimed the momentum along with the break back and, ultimately, the set.

Dimitrov then seemed to be in constant trouble, surviving deuces in the third and seventh games before suddenly reasserting himself to even the match at one set a piece. It was Chardy’s turn to take charge in the third set, breaking at love for a 4-3 lead and again in the ninth game for added emphasis.

After Dimitrov raced to a 4-1 lead in the fourth set, Chardy came within two points of pulling even at 4-4 only to sabotage the effort with numerous wild returns of serve and unforced errors. Chardy was never the same player, ultimately mounting 72 errors with increasingly dispirited play compared to 40 for Dimitrov in the three-hour, five-minute marathon.

WHAT IT MEANS: Dimitrov, a former world No. 8 who owns four singles titles, is again holding his head high after six first-round defeats in seven outings dropped him to No. 40. A resurgence in the Emirates Airline US Open Series has led him to the cusp of a Top 20 ranking, after forcing three-set thrillers against Kei Nishikori in the Toronto quarterfinals and with Marin Cilic in the semifinals at Cincinnati.

In previous Grand Slam tournaments this year, Dimitrov reached the third round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon and the first round at Roland Garros. Dimitrov – and his fans – still await his breakthrough at the US Open, where his best result is the fourth round in 2014.

Chardy, who owns one career title, boasts quarterfinal finishes this season at Doha, Sydney, Delray Beach and Umag. At Grand Slam tournaments, he reached the second round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon and third round at Roland Garros. He struggled with a right foot injury during the US Open Series, retiring against Pospisil in the first round at Toronto and withdrawing from Atlanta.

Chardy is playing in his tenth US Open, with his best result a place in the fourth round in 2015.

THE QUESTION: With the experience of new coach Dani Vallverdu, will Dimitrov at last attain his untapped potential?