Grigor Dimitrov came back from one set down to beat Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6- 2 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes reaching the quarter final at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. Dimitrov beat his Spanish rival for the first time to achieve the biggest win since Indian Wells 2021.
Dimitrov entered the match trailing 0-3 in his previous head-to-head matches against Alcaraz.
Dimitrov converted four of his five break points. Alcaraz dropped his serve once from the only break point he faced and converted two of his five break points.
Dimitrov faced two break points in the second game of the opening set and saved them to hold serve and held serve with a backhand drop shot winner at 1-1. Both players held at love in the third and fourth games before Dimitrov earned a break with a forehand down the line winner. Dimitrov held serve with a service winner in the sixth game and opened up a 5-3 lead with a back winner at the net. Alcaraz held his next two service games and broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5 after forcing an error from Dimitrov. Alcaraz broke serve in the 12th game to serve out the first set 6-4.
Dimitrov never faced a break point and forced an error from Alcaraz in the first game of the second set. The Bulgarian player opened up a 4-2 lead with a hold at love in the sixth game with a service winner. The 2017 ATP Finals champion earned a double break and served for the set at 5-2 and held serve with a service winner in the eighth game to force the match to the third set.
Dimitrov broke serve in the third game to take a 2-1 lead at the start of the third set. He held serve at 15 in the fourth game to open up a 3-1 lead.
The Bulgarian player served for the match at 5-4 and held at 30 to reach the quarter final.
Dimitrov won 89% of his first serve points in the third set and 73% of points at the net.
“I stayed in the match. That was the first thing, especially after the first set. I was serving very well throughout the first set and he made a few errors. I pushed him to make a lot of errors at certain moments. At 4-5 he played an amazing game and another at 6-5. I was creating a lot of opportunities. After the second break in the second set I think I understood his service games and was able to put more balls in and read his serve a bit better. I think in the third set it was a bit a cat and mouse. I think we both played a solid set. He made a few errors and I was very solid and served well when I had to”, said Dimitrov.
Dimitrov is seeking his first title since his triumph at the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals in London. That year he reached the quarter final in Shanghai.
Alcaraz was chasing his seventh title of the season and his third trophy at Masters 1000 level.
