WHAT HAPPENED: Grigor Dimitrov says he’s tempered his goals of late. Instead of obsessing over that ever-elusive first Grand Slam singles title, the 19th-ranked Bulgarian says he’s instead eyeing a return to the Top 10, perhaps another 250-, 500- or 1000-level title to restore the kind of self-belief it takes to reach the trophy round at a major.
That kind of short-game, in-the-moment thinking is proving helpful at the 2023 US Open, where Dimitrov is back into Round 3 for the first time since his semifinal showing in 2019. On Day 4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the 32-year-old defeated 2012 titlist Andy Murray, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, in 2 hours and 45 minutes.
“I’m very happy with the performance today—I was expecting, honestly, five sets,” said Dimitrov, who finished with 32 winners to 32 unforced errors. “I was constantly trying to remind myself that I’m here for the long haul. That first set was the key. After that, I kind of settled in a little bit more. We know what we’re going to do with Andy—we’ve played multiple times. He’s a tremendous competitor, an amazing guy, as well. In a way, there were a few points that leaned toward my side, but I’m very happy with the fight.”
Coming into the matchup, Dimitrov was a paltry 3-8 against the three-time major titlist Murray, having also dropped a Round-of-16 tussle with the Scotsman at the US Open in 2016, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
But in their first meeting in nearly seven years, Dimitrov looked the more energetic of the two. That’s a promising sign for the former World No. 3 given that he was coming off a taxing 6-7(9), 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(9) marathon against Slovak Alex Molcan, the first time he had ever overcome a two-sets-to-love disadvantage at a major.
Murray managed to convert just two of his nine break-point chances on the afternoon.
“One match at a time, of course,” cautioned Dimitrov of looking ahead to another deep run. “But we’re in the third round. Hopefully, we can keep on going. I have great memories from 2019. I would love to repeat that, and why not go further?”
WHAT IT MEANS: Awaiting Dimitrov is 2020 US Open finalist Alexander Zverev, who prevailed in an all-German matchup with Daniel Altmaier, 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Zverev holds a 5-1 head-to-head edge.
MATCH POINT: In 2019, Dimitrov rallied from two-sets-to-one down to stun third-ranked Roger Federer, becoming the second-lowest-ranked (No. 78) US Open semifinalist in ATP Rankings history behind only Jimmy Connors (No. 174 in 1991).
