© Reuters
Archive.
Dnevnik Express
Learn the most important and interesting with the bulletin at 5 p.m. Every day, directly to your email.
Grigor Dimitrov achieved a convincing victory in his first match of the tournament in Chengdu, after 6:3, 6:4 over Juan Pablo Varias from Peru. The Bulgarian qualified for the third round in the ATP 250 series race.
The success is anniversary number 400 in Dimitrov’s career.
It was the first match between him and the 70th ranked Varias. The meeting was supposed to be on Friday, but was postponed a day because of rain.
“I haven’t been to China for quite a long time and I’m very happy to be back. I see a positive reception and I’m very happy to play in front of new people. I didn’t know that this was my 400th win, but it’s a very good feeling. I’ve been on the courts and I have to appreciate this achievement”, said the Bulgarian.
In the next round, the Bulgarian will meet Christopher O’Connell from Australia, who a day ago beat Taro Daniel 7:6 (10), 6:4. The Australian is 53rd in the world.
Dimitrov is the third seed in the main draw in the Chinese city, with the only two higher-ranked tennis players being Alexander Zverev (No. 10) and Lorenzo Musetti (No. 18).
The first set of the match was decided extremely quickly, although there were five breaks. Dimitrov took a 2-0 lead but then lost his serve. The Bulgarian broke once more to take a 4:2 lead, but in the very next game, Varias again took the former #3’s serve.
However, Dimitrov managed to record another break, then consolidated it and ended the first part.
There was an exchange of breaks in the second set as well, when Dimitrov led 2:1, but Varias returned it to him and equalized. However, the Bulgarian managed to realize another one at a very important moment, leading 5:4 to serve for the match.
He got to a match point, which he missed, but on the second chance he had no trouble.
