Grigor Dimitrov

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Grigor Dimitrov made a winning start to his Rome campaign, sweeping past Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 6-4 to maintain his perfect record against the Japanese lefty.

The Bulgarian was pushed for large periods of the second-round clash in Rome but was strong on serve, winning 92 per cent (23/25) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to a one-hour, 39-minute triumph.

"I am happy with the win," Dimitrov said. "It was a difficult match today. A lefty in the first match is never easy. The conditions were the warmest this year. Clay, lefty, so everything adds up, but I am happy to finish in straight sets."

Dimitrov, who arrives in Rome ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, is looking to rediscover his best level in the Italian capital, having suffered a third-round defeat in Monte-Carlo and a second-round loss in Madrid.

The 32-year-old advanced to the final at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami in March and will be aiming for a similar run at the clay-court event. Dimitrov now leads Nishioka 3-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series and will next face Terence Atmane after the French qualifier advanced when Lorenzo Musetti retired. Atmane led the Italian 7-5, 1-0.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/dimitro ... 024-friday

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Dimitrov wins 'one of the most difficult matches of the year' to advance in Rome

Spoiler:

Grigor Dimitrov advanced to the fourth round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia for the first time since 2020 on Sunday when he overcame French qualifier Terence Atmane 7-6(3), 6-3.

The eighth-seeded Bulgarian was made to work hard in the hot conditions in Rome, where he edged Atmane in a tight first set. He then played with more freedom in the second set to seal victory after one hour and 44 minutes in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head clash.

“For the past five days I have been playing lefties, so it will be nice to get a righty, but it is what it is,” said Dimitrov, who beat lefty Yoshihito Nishioka in his opening match. “It was a very difficult match. Probably one of the most difficult matches this year. The conditions were so difficult. I rolled my ankle on one side, there was not much clay left.

“You have to adapt and today that is what I did. I played an OK game and that was enough but at the same time I am not happy with where my game is at. But I keep winning matches like this and that is what counts.”

Dimitrov, who struck 19 winners and committed 18 unforced errors, has reached the fourth round in Rome three times, with his best result in the Italian capital a semi-final run in 2014. The 32-year-old is 24-7 on the season and is currently ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Dimitrov won the Nitto ATP Finals crown in his only previous appearance in 2017.

Dimitrov will keep his focus on Rome for now and will next meet Taylor Fritz.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/dimitro ... 024-sunday

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