Grigor Dimitrov topples Nicolas Mahut to reach last eight – AEGON Championships 2012
World number 72, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, went one step closer to capturing his first title on the ATP World Tour, as he defeated France’s Nicolas Mahut, ranked 65th in the world, in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-4 in
the third round at the AEGON Championships in London on Thursday.
Dimitrov and Mahut started the contest steadily, winning their serves in the first six games and equalising the score at 3-3. The Frenchman was first to take lead, as he broke his opponent in the seventh and consolidated on it
to move ahead 5-3. However, Mahut lost the golden opportunity when he served for the set at 5-4 and levelled the proceedings at 5-5. Both players held serve in the following two games and took the scores to 6-6, forcing a tie-breaker. Dimitrov built a 4-1
lead at the start and sustained it till the end to win 7-6(3).
The Bulgarian pounded six aces and captured 22 of the 27 first serve points in the opener. He could not give the same performance on the second ones, committing one double fault and losing eight of the 16 points. The 21-year-old
also fared averagely on replies to his opponent’s deliveries, winning just 15 of the 38 first and six of the 18 second return points. The Paris, France resident converted one of the nine break points he received and saved two of the three he faced.
Dimitrov and Mahut held their serve in the first four games of the second set to level the score at 2-2. The Bulgarian snatched a break in the third and won his subsequent one to go up 4-2. The 6ft 2in tall did not allow the French
contestant to bounce back, closing it 6-4.
The Bulgarian fired four aces and 73 percent of the first deliveries in the second set. His conversion rate was amazing, claiming 14 of the 16 first and all the six second serve points.
Dimitrov required just an hour and 36 minutes to undo his opponent in a one sided contest.
Talking to the reporters after the match, the Bulgarian said, “I love this tournament. I played as a junior here, so I feel absolutely great every time I'm here. The atmosphere and the crowd, [and] the whole club, you can feel
the history. Many players in the locker room are very pleased also to be here.”
Dimitrov is drawn to play the ninth seed, Kevin Anderson of South Africa, in the quarters.
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