Grigor Dimitrov enters today’s final unbeaten after taking a narrow win over Dominic Thiem before dropping just two games in each of his two remaining round-robin matches against David Goffin and Pablo Carreno Busta earlier this week. On Saturday the Bulgarian player came back from losing the first set to beat Jack Sock 4-6 6-3 6-0 in the semifinal after dropping just three games in the final three games.
“I think I started the match exactly the way I wanted. After that break at 3-0 in the first set, I think it was a little bit of a turning point. He stepped in the court, started being a little more aggressive. I let him play his game. I think that was the first set. The second was one-way street. It was a very good play, as simple as that. In the third I just had to find those little cracks in his game to break him. After that it was a good finish for me”, said Dimitrov.
The Bulgarian star lost his previous match against Sock in the 2017 Indian Wells after missing four match points. Dimitrov had to hold his nerve, as Sock saved four match points and even earned two break points in yesterday’s semifinal before the Bulgarian player sealed the win, when Sock netted a forehand.
“Sometimes not only you have to fight yourself mentally, but you need to fight like demons from previous matches or your opponent. There are just so many matches that you bring out. I was very happy the way I handled the pressure. Even though I was down a breakpoint or something, even if I had to play an extra game or games, I had to accept it. You learn from those moments. I certainly learned from that experience”.
Dimitrov will finish the year as the new world number 3 behind Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer after a great season highlighted by four titles in Brisbane, Sofia and Cincinnati.
“The goal was to finish the year in the top 10. Now I finished in the top 3. It’s a wonderful reward. This is what I have been working for. I think it’s not only good for me, but also for the whole team. I think that gives us a good platform to start in the off-season and have a good start to the new year”, said Dimitrov.
Dimitrov leads 4-1 in his previous head-to-head matches over the other finalist David Goffin, who beat Roger Federer in the other semifinal. Dimitrov beat Goffin dropping just two games iin his 6-0 6-2 n the round-robin match earlier this week. Last winter Dimitrov beat his Belgian rival in the Australian Open quarter final and in the Sofia final. Goffin took his only win over Dimitrov last February in the Rotterdam quarter finals. Goffin comes into this evening’s final after beating Rafa Nadal in the round-robin and Roger Federer in the semifinal in two three-set matches.
Both Djokovic and Goffin are making their first appearance at the ATP Finals, although Goffin played one match against Novak Djokovic as alternate to replace Gael Monfils.
Dimitrov is aware that this Sunday’s final will be a totally different match from his previous clash against the Belgian player.
“The first match is in the past. I wish I could press “Replay”. I am sure neither one of usi s going to think about that. He is a very intelligent player. He knows his way around the court very well. Any given day, any particular moment he makes it dangerous. He had a few good wins already and has been playing well through the end of the year. I think he has got a lot of confidence. None of us has nothing to lose. We are out in the first final. I think it’s going to be exciting.
Dimitrov is the eleventh player in the history of the ATP Finals to reach the final in his first appearance at this event and the first debutant to achieve this feat since David Ferrer in 2007. For the first time since the 2008 final between Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko the title match will be played between two players who make their debut at the ATP Finals.
“It’s another match. Obviously David has done well this week beating Rafa and Roger. I think his confidence is going to be high there. I am not going to focus on his confidence or his game right now. I am just focusing on myself, the recovery that I am going to be up there. It’s not going to be the same after I played against him. I think it is a different stage for both of us. It’s wonderful day to play on. I think Sundays are always the greatest days to play.”
Goffin has become the sixth player to beat Federer and Nadal in the same event and the first player to beat the top two players at the ATP Finals since 2009, when Nikolay Davydenko beat world number 2 Nadal in the round-robin group and world number 1 Federer in the semifinal.
Goffin scored his first win against his idol Federer after losing his previous six head-to-head matches. The Belgian player grew up with a poster of Federer on his bedroom wall
“Both are really special. It was the first time against Rafa. Then the semifinal for the first time for me here in such a big event, big tournament, it was a perfect moment. It’s the best win of my career for sure”, said Goffin.
