Grigor Dimitrov topples Pablo Andujar to move to the second round – Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012
Ranked 56th in the world, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria clinched his 21st match win of the season by overpowering the world number 40 from Spain, Pablo Andujar, in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 in the first round of
the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Dimitrov and Andujar played steadily in the first set, as neither of the two players allowed the other to claim a breakthrough in the opening 11 games, taking the score to 6-5 in favour of the former. The Bulgarian struck at that
moment to grab the opener 7-5.
The Paris, France resident smacked three aces but also committed a couple of double faults. The 21-year-old hit 53 percent of the first serves and secured 13 of the 18 points on them. He also impressed by standing strong on the
second ones, availing 12 of the 16. The right-hander did not provide any break opportunity to his rival and availed the only one he created on the Spaniard’s serve in the opener.
Start of the second set was not as stable as the opener’s, as Dimitrov and Andujar succeeded in holding their serve in just the first three games, taking the score to 2-1 in the former’s favour. The Bulgarian nailed a break in
the fourth and consolidated on it to attain a 4-1 lead. Dimitrov maintained his lead till the end, capturing the second set 6-3.
The Bulgarian contender played an all-round game, banging in four aces and not committing even a single double fault. The 6ft 2in tall converted 14 of the 19 first and 10 of the 13 second deliveries into points. He also fared above
averagely on the replies to Andujar’s serves, as he claimed five of the 12 first and six of the 14 second return points.
Dimitrov improved this year’s win/loss record to 21-16 with this victory. The Bulgarian star gave his best performance at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where he stunned the then world number seven, Tomas Berdych of Czech
Republic, in the third round.
The Bulgarian player is pitted against the second seed, Novak Djokovic, in the second round of this event.
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