The race is on clay.
This will be the winner of the match between the Czechs Thomas Mahatz and the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori.
The match of the first round starts at 12:00 Bulgarian time, and the winner will play with our native racket in the second phase of the competition.
Mahac is ranked No. 50 in the world and is having his strongest Tour season yet. He and Dimitrov have not met at the professional level until now.
Ruusuvuori is 71st. He started the year strong with a tournament final in Hong Kong and a mega match against the former world no.1 Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open (defeat, but in 5 sets – 6:3, 7:6(1), 4:6, 6:7(1), 0:6), but then suffered several early tournament exits.
Against the Scandinavian, Grigor has three successes from three meetings, all three of which took place last season:
– victory in the second round of the French Open – 7:6(3), 6:3, 6:4
– success in the first round of the grass court tournament in Queens, London (ATP 500) – 6:2, 6:4
– victory in the round of 16 competition in Washington (ATP 500) – 6:4, 6:3.
