Photo: Getty Images / collage: SportLive
For the end of the season: Grigor Dimitrov will play in the final in the prestigious tournament in Paris, part of the “Masters 1000” series. This is the last announced race on the calendar for the year before the 32-year-old first rocket of Bulgaria.
There will be the tennis icon as an opponent Novak Djokovic. According to many – the greatest in this sport. The two will face each other for the 13th time, as well as the 3rd time this season (see what happened in the previous ones below in the article).
The match between Grisho and Nole will begin NOT BEFORE 4:00 p.m Bulgarian time on the central court in the French capital. You will be able to follow the match LIVE at SportLive.bg.
First set
1:0 – Grigor was the first passer. The first point was played on the second serve, ending with a forehand out from the Bulgarian. The first serve didn’t go in again, but Djokovic sent his second return into the net for 15:15, and then he made a mistake and cut a backhand out. The first longer play ended with a forehand in the net by the Bulgarian for 30:30. The first serve did not go in again, but Nole sent a backhand out for a game ball in favor of Dimitrov, which he did not take advantage of – first deuce. A new game ball after finally a powerful initial kick and the excellent defense of the Serbian was broken after a smash. The pass was picked off, and the first kickoff was scored at the base of that.
1:1 – the serve of the world number 1 started with an ace. On the next point it came to a draw, the Bulgarian was in the leading position, but his forehand was given out. Grisho contested and proved to be right, the shot hit the line – a replay of the point, which subsequently went to Dimitrov after a backhand on the right in an out by the Serbian (15:15). New play after an aggressive return of the second serve and again a backhand on the right in the out by Novak (15:30). Unfortunately, this time the aggressive forehand return of the second serve on the sharp diagonal hit the net for 30:30. A forehand from Djokovic and a classy drop volley earned him a game ball, which was scooped up after returning to the net.
Before Grigor Dimitrov – Novak Djokovic
Grigor Dimitrov – Novak Djokovic on TV: Where to watch the final from the Masters in Paris?
After over a month and a half away from the court, Djokovic showed that class is eternal. He saw off Tomas Martin Echeverri, Talon Grikspor, Holger Rune and Andrey Rublev to reach the final. Grigor dealt with, at least on paper, classier opponents: Lorenzo Musetti, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Bublik, Hubert Hurkach and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
After Nole defeated Grisho at the Australian Open and at the Masters in Rome this year, the Bulgarian will try to get his revenge of sorts. However, he will be looking for only the second success in the 12 meetings between them so far.
The expression in sets in the clashes in question is 6:26. Seven of the clashes were on hard court (so will be the one in Paris), all of which were won by Djokovic. Three of them are on clay (that’s where Grisho’s only success comes from), and the other two are on grass.
