WHAT HAPPENED: Grigor Dimitrov, the No. 9 Bulgarian who’s experiencing a resurgence at age 33 and a return to the Top 10 after a series of niggling injuries, defeated the French qualifier Kyrian Jacquet in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the second round at the 2024 US Open on Monday afternoon.
Dimitrov pounced routinely on Jacquet’s weak serve, which often came in at just over 100 mph, and pushed the smaller Frenchman around the court. Although he looked lethargic to start the match, Dimitrov broke serve midway through the first set and appeared to be cruising to victory, up a break in the second. Yet the Bulgarian surrendered his lead, allowing Jacquet to pull even—and threaten to make a match of it in the second set.
Dimitrov recovered his concentration, if still not his best tennis, and broke serve for the fourth time to take a two-set lead. In the final set, the Bulgarian finally began to strike the ball with more confidence and variety, ripping winners and finishing with 37 winners and 11 aces.
Deep in the third set, Dimitrov hit a delicate little half volley and followed Jacquet’s sharply angled return with an exquisite backhand slice, struck from an impossible angle with his back to the net, for a highlight-reel winner from outside the doubles alley. Jacquet had time for an equally spectacular response, lasering a running forehand crosscourt winner, facing three match points at 0-40.
The Frenchman only delayed the outcome for a moment. Dimitrov claimed victory on the next point.
WHAT IT MEANS: Dimitrov has been as high as No. 3 in the world back in 2017 and achieved his best result at a Slam in Flushing, when he reached the semifinals in 2019. (The Bulgarian also made the semis at the Australian Open in 2017).
Dimitrov has had a good year in 2024, with a record of 34-13. He reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, losing to then-No. 2 Jannik Sinner, and the final of the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami, where he also succumbed to the Italian after wins over three Top 10 players, including No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 4 Alexander Zverev. The stylish Bulgarian is back in the Top 10 this year for the first time since 2018.
Jacquet, a 23-year-old ranked No. 209, has spent much of his career on the Challenger circuit and made it through three rounds of qualifying in Flushing Meadows to enter the main draw. After his loss to Dimitrov on Monday, he is still yet to win an ATP-level singles match.
MATCH POINT: Dimitrov, playing with renewed confidence, is looking to improve upon his string of middling results at the US Open, where he hasn’t been past the third round since reaching the semis in 2019.
