The Bulgarian felt a thigh pain in the fifth set and retired.
American Frances Tiafoe (world number 20) dominated Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (number 9) by retirement at 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 4-1 to qualify for the semi-finals of the US Open tennis tournament on Tuesday in New York. Already a semi-finalist in 2022, he will face his compatriot Taylor Fritz (number 12), to send a first American to the Grand Slam final since Andy Roddick in 2006.
“Obviously it wasn’t the way I wanted to win even though I’m happy to qualify for the semis. It was a very high level match. You’re going to see me against another American, it’s going to be great! It’s going to be the biggest match of our careers, we’ve known each other since we were 14. I can’t be more impatient.”Tiafoe commented on the court.
A crazy pace
Dimitrov (33 years old) retired, visibly injured in the back of the left thigh. The Bulgarian had already been forced to retire in the 8th finals of Wimbledon in July. The intensity of Tuesday’s match culminated in the tie-break of the 2nd set, initially superb, before ending with three double faults!
First trailing 4-1 at the start of the set, Dimitrov recovered his break and played a sublime decisive game, using his silky one-handed backhand on a passing shot and then a winning return of serve. Leading 6 points to 3 with two serves, he then collapsed with two double faults, before Tiafoe himself gave him the set on a double fault.
Grimacing at times during the 3rd set, Dimitrov had his serve stolen at 2-2 before dropping the set on another double fault. Returning to his chair, he then pointed out the back of his left thigh to his staff, before slipping away for a few minutes, then returning to play 5 games in the 4th set while limping, without being able to fully defend his chances.
