Dimitrov defeats Rublev in five-set thriller to secure US Open quarter-final spot

Dimitrov wins 80% of his first-serve points and fires 17 aces to advance to his first Open quarters in four years

NEW YORK:

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov ended sixth seed Andrey Rublev’s comeback bid to secure a spot in the US Open quarter-finals for the first time since 2019, winning 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3 on Sunday.

The ninth seed won 80% of his first-serve points and hit 17 aces, frustrating Rublev, who vented his anger by slamming his racket against the court and his own body, resulting in a cut wrist that required medical attention during the first set.

The evenly contested match turned in Dimitrov’s favour in the fifth set, much to the delight of the New York crowd, which included Serena Williams enjoying the event's signature honey deuce cocktail. Rublev’s frustrations were evident early, beginning the fourth game of the first set with two double faults and conceding Dimitrov’s first break.

Dimitrov appeared in control after winning the last five points of the second-set tiebreak, but Rublev fought back, taking the next two sets to level the match. A crucial break in the fourth game of the final set gave Dimitrov an advantage he maintained, setting up a quarter-final against either American Frances Tiafoe or Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.

“The steal of the second set really helped me keep believing in my game and my body,” Dimitrov told reporters. “After the first few sets, he started playing amazingly. There wasn’t much I could do, so I had to pull back and wait for an opportunity. It came in the fifth, and that was the turning point today. From there, I ran with the match, but it was very challenging.”