ATP Masters Indian Wells: Grigor Dimitrov stops Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic remains number one
Grigor Dimitrov has finished Daniil Medvedev's winning run in the round of 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells. It is only mathematically possible that the Russian will be able to overtake Novak Djokovic as number one in the world at the end of the year.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Oct 14, 2021, 01:07 am
At first, the match between Grigor Dimitrov and Daniil Medvedev started with the - sometimes frightening - efficiency with which the Russian won his first Grand Slam title in Flushing Meadows a few weeks ago. Medvedev got the break in the first game of the game, an advantage that the 25-year-old was able to transport to win the set. With 6: 4 Medvedev gained the advantage.
Little seemed to change that in the second round: The second in the world numbered again managed an early break, and Medvedev quickly moved away to 4: 2. But then what happened at Center Court in California broke with the way Daniil Medvedev had last been able to contest. Dimitrov got stronger and stronger, won a whopping seven games in a row and instead of "Game, Set & Match, Medvedev" it was suddenly set equalization and 3-0 for the Bulgarian. Who could not be denied this advantage and after exactly two hours and 15 minutes with 4: 6, 6: 4 and 6: 3 made the surprise perfect.
Djokovic remains number one
With the defeat in the round of 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 event from Indian Wells, the chances for Daniil Medvedev to end the tennis year before Novak Djokovic have fallen drastically. There is still a mathematical possibility, but this has moved a long way off. For the newly crowned Grand Slam winner, a winning streak that has lasted since the US Open is coming to an end, for Dimitrov, on the other hand, it is the first win against a number two in the world since 2016.
In the quarter-finals, the Bulgarian will now face Hubert Hurkacz, who showed an excellent performance at noon (local time) and literally swept Aslan Karatsev off the pitch in two sets. At the same time as Grigor Dimitrov, Cameron Norrie from Great Britain also reached the round of the last eight. The world number 26. defeated Tommy Paul in three sets.