Grigor Dimitrov upsets Marcos Baghdatis in the second round of BMW Open
World number 69 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria came from behind and saved two match points to battle past Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, ranked 25th in the world, in three sets 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 in the second round at the BMW
Open in Munich on Wednesday. It took the Bulgarian two hours and 11 minutes to beat his opponent.
Baghdatis broke Dimitrov in the fourth game of the opening set and held his serve in the next game to go ahead 4-1. The Cypriot served out the set at 5-3.
The 25-year-old fired three aces and committed a single double fault in the first set. Baghdatis hit 41 percent of the first serves, winning 82 percent of the points on them in the opening set. On the other hand, Dimitrov delivered
69 percent of the first serves and converted 67 percent of them into points. The Bulgarian failed to save the only break point he faced in the first set.
In the second set, none of the two players was able to break each other’s serve, taking the set to a tie-break. Baghdatis claimed a mini-break on the first point of the tie-break. At 5-4, Baghdatis hit a forehand winner down the
line to receive two match points. However, Dimitrov controlled his nerves and won four straight points to claim the tie-break 8-6.
The Bulgarian hit four aces and 61 percent of the first serves in the second set. Dimitrov won 68 percent of the first service points in the second set. The 19-year-old saved all the three break points he faced in the second set.
After winning a close second set, Dimitrov broke Baghdatis in the third and fifth game of the deciding set, capturing it 6-2. The Bulgarian delivered four aces and 62 percent of the first serves in the final set, converting 85
percent of them into points. The right-handed won both break points he received in the third set.
Talking to the journalists after the match, Dimitrov said, “It was a great match, especially when I won it in the end. It’s just an unbelievable feeling. I was two match points down and I found a way to get back up right away and
turn the match in a way that I really wanted to.”
The Bulgarian added, “Roland Garros is coming soon so it’s good to build up a bit of confidence before the upcoming tournaments. I've got to keep my feet on the ground and just look forward. I really need to push myself to the
limits and see what it has to offer.”
Dimitrov will take on either Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili or Florian Mayer of Germany in the quarterfinals.
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