Grigor Dimitrov qualified for the quarterfinals by dominating Andrey Rublev, 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3, in 3h39, this Sunday, at the end of a big fight.
The Bulgarian beat Andrey Rublev in five sets and 3h39 of play, 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3. He reached the quarterfinals in New York for the third time in his career. Finalist in 2019, he will face Frances Tiafoe or Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday, who are facing each other tonight. For his 14th consecutive US Open, the 33-year-old Bulgarian will face the American Frances Tiafoe (20th) or the Australian Alexei Popyrin (28th), winner of Novak Djokovic in the third round, to try to return to the last four at Flushing Meadows, as in 2019.
Dimitrov calmly dominated the first two sets, during which the demons of nerves gnawed at Rublev (ear-piercing screams from the front row crowd, self-slapping that would knock out a bear). But the Bulgarian suddenly lost his physical form and the Russian reversed the course of the match.
Until the start of the fifth set. There, Dimitrov managed the decisive break to lead 3-1. Then Rublev had two break points to come back to 3-4, but he was unable to convert them and found himself with his back to the wall, led 2-5. Dimitrov won the qualification on his next serve. Ten years ago, the Bulgarian had reached two quarter-finals in Grand Slams in the same season (Australian Open and Wimbledon). He did the same this year (Roland-Garros and US Open).
