Grigor Dimitrov defeats Alexei Popyrin in Shanghai | ATP Tour

Match Report

Dimitrov powers previous Popyrin in Shanghai for fortieth win of 12 months

Fritz, Rune set fourth-round conflict

October 08, 2024

Is the Rolex Shanghai Masters the place Grigor Dimitrov makes his transfer within the PIF ATP Stay Race To Turin?

The Bulgarian handled a troublesome third-round attract model on Tuesday on the Chinese language ATP Masters 1000 occasion, the place he overcame Alexei Popyrin 7-6(5), 6-2. Dimitrov held agency in a decent first set earlier than accelerating to a victory by which he gained 97 per cent (33/34) of factors behind his first serve, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats.

Along with his fortieth tour-level victory of 2024, Dimitrov consolidated tenth place within the Stay Race. The 33-year-old is aware of {that a} deep run in Shanghai may considerably enhance his possibilities of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals, the place he lifted the trophy on his solely earlier look in 2017.

“Sooner or later at a time for the time being for me,” stated Dimitrov, who has struggled on and off with harm since he was pressured to retire from his US Open quarter-final towards Frances Tiafoe in August. “There’s been so many issues which have been shifting round, and on the similar time I’m very grateful to be out right here once more. On the similar time, placing matches collectively below my belt, back-to-back, is essential for me.”

Assertion win 😮‍💨@GrigorDimitrov defeats Alexei Popyrin 7-6(5) 6-2 to succeed in the spherical of 16 in Shanghai for the third consecutive time.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/piumC1q1Ut

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 8, 2024

Dimitrov provided simply 14 unforced errors to Popyrin’s 28 en path to levelling the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence at 2-2. Along with his 88-minute triumph, he additionally avenged his Masters 1000 defeat to Popyrin in August in Montreal, the place the Australian saved three match factors towards Dimitrov within the third spherical earlier than happening to raise the title.

“I simply needed to keep in it. It’s a really troublesome match,” stated Dimitrov. “He’s such an excellent hitter. Serves superb, and each excessive ball across the center, he simply punishes you. So I needed to stay very calm and observe my gameplan. I believe I used to be really hanging the ball very properly, so I’m pleased with the win.”

Subsequent up for Dimitrov in Shanghai is a fourth-round assembly with Jakub Mensik. The #NextGenATP Czech earlier downed Alexander Shevchenko 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-2.

One other High 10 star, Taylor Fritz, additionally superior with a straight-sets win on Tuesday. The American breezed previous Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 6-4 to succeed in the final 16 in Shanghai for the primary time in 5 appearances.

His opponent there will likely be twelfth seed Holger Rune, who eased to a 6-4, 7-5 triumph towards Jiri Lehecka. The 21-year-old Rune broke serve within the penultimate recreation of each units to tug by means of for a one-hour, 50-minute win towards the Thirty third-seeded Lehecka.

Wednesday’s assembly in Shanghai would be the third Lexus ATP Head2Head conflict between Fritz and Rune. Each their earlier encounters additionally got here at Masters 1000 occasions: Fritz prevailed in a fourth-round conflict in Miami in 2023, earlier than Rune gained revenge with a fourth-round win in Indian Wells earlier this season.