Erste Bank Open: Dimitrov without expectations - and with the best prospects
Grigor Dimitrov meets Marcos Giron in the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open 2022 today. With a win, the Russian could equalize his best results of the season.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Oct 27, 2022, 11:24 pm
The week in Vienna has already started well for Grigor Dimitrov, with the final in the tie-break show fight at Heumarkt on Friday evening. There, the Bulgarian fine spirit lost out against Karen Khachanov, but as usual he delighted the fans with his variable play. Less enthusiastic was Andrey Rublev, who rightly lost to Dimitrov in the round of 16 of the Erste Bank Open 2022 3: 6 and 4: 6 without a chance.
When asked about his expectations for today's quarter-finals, veteran Dimitrov replied: At this stage in his career, he has none. As far as the prospects are concerned, and Dimitrov did not know this at the time of his assessment, optimism is warranted: Grigor Dimitrov meets Marcos Giron in the round of the last eight, who surprisingly won against Cameron Norrie. Now the American was on the verge of defeat two weeks ago in Gijon Dominic Thiem. But Dimitrov certainly starts this game as a favourite.
Interestingly, these two players have only met in Roland Garros so far: At the first meeting in 2021, Dimitrov had to give up in the fourth set, a year later he retaliated with a magnificent 6: 1, 6: 1 and 6: 1.
Dimitrov in Monte Carlo in the semifinals
Judging by his skills, Grigor Dimitrov's haul of eight titles so far is rather modest. But the last two so far were tough: Dimitrov cleared in Cincinnati and at the ATP Finals. Little catch: It's been five years now. Since then, only one final has been added: in 2018 he lost the final in Rotterdam against his good friend Roger Federer.
Will it work in Vienna with an even deeper run? Grigor Dimitrov has become cautious. At least since his corona infection, which he caught on the Adria Tour in spring 2020. It took a few months for the now 31-year-old to feel fresh again. Not really much went together this season either. With two exceptions: Dimitrov reached the semi-finals in Melbourne at the beginning of the year. Just like a few months later in his adopted home of Monte Carlo. Dimitrov can now stop this success in Vienna.
Here the individual tableau in Vienna
viennamap