WHAT HAPPENED: In an electric atmosphere with tennis worthy of a championship match, Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov battled through five riveting and dramatic sets to give a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd all that they came for—and more—on Tuesday at the US Open.
Relentless in his shot-making and intensity, Dimitrov scored the biggest upset of his career by toppling the five-time Open champion, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.
Once ranked No. 3 in the world in 2017, but now unseeded at No. 78, Dimitrov is into his first Open semifinal and third Slam final four. The 28-year-old previously made the 2014 Wimbledon and 2017 Open semifinals.
“Only thing I kept thinking was to stay in the match, in the match,” he said after his first career win over the Swiss great in eight tries. “I’m just happy.”
Number one on the all-time list for most Grand Slam singles titles with 20, the 38-year-old Federer took an injury timeout for an upper-body issue before the start of the final set and appeared to play tenuously the rest of the way.
Federer won only 13 points in the last set, dropped his serve twice and sprayed the ball around the court with 13 errors.
“At the end, he definitely was not 100 percent,” Dimitrov said. “It’s best of five [sets], so anything can happen.”
If the fans thought they were seeing double, there was good reason. The 28-year-old Dimitrov has been called “Baby Fed” throughout his career for his graceful playing style built around a full-blooded, one-handed backhand and all-around game. And back and forth, the pair traded big-time shots throughout the three-hour, 12-minute contest.
The closeness of the match, despite the lopsided last set, was reflected in the final stat sheet. Federer had 40 winners and Dimitrov 35. Dimitrov won 139 points, Federer 135.
The later stages of the fourth set provided the match’s highest drama. Down 2-4, Federer fought off seven break points in a marathon 12-minute game to make it 3-4.
Serving for the set three games later, Dimitrov pulled off his own high-wire act. He fell behind love-40 and the frenzied crowd was ready to erupt if Federer could break to pull even. But Dimitrov would not yield. He saved those three break points and then two more. He made sure the match would go the distance when Federer missed a forehand on the first set point.
In a match of great shots, one stood out on the highlight reel. In the last game of the third set, Federer put up an amazing forehand topspin lob. Dimitrov somehow ran it down and put up a desperation lob of his own that Federer clobbered for a winner.
WHAT IT MEANS: Dimitrov has been highly touted from the early stages of his career. He had some early highlights, including his two Grand Slam semifinals and his ATP Finals title in 2017. But recently, he had fallen on hard times, slipping to a No. 78 world ranking just a few weeks ago, his lowest ranking since 2012.
“There’s no such a thing as old and new Grigor. Only way is forward. Overall I feel like a different person, a different player,” Dimitrov said in a previous press conference. “I mean there’s no point to sit here and talk about the past six, seven months, to welcome everybody to my pity party. I faced the adversity, faced everything I had to. I’m back. I’m enjoying it, as well. I’m feeling free.”
MATCH POINT: Dimitrov now plays the hottest player on tour right now, No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in Friday’s semifinal. Medvedev has lost just twice in his last 21 matches. But Dimitrov just might have the stamina to reach his first career Slam final by cooling off the Russian.
PHOTOS: Federer vs. Dimitrov QF
