Janko Tipsarevic knocks out Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals – AEGON International 2011
World number 30 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia prevailed over world number 64 Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(2) in the quarterfinals of AEGON International at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne on Thursday. The Serbian
took an hour and 28 minutes to overpower his opponent in an evenly contested match.
Tipsarevic took the lead straightaway as he broke Dimitrov in the first game of the opening set and held his next service game to take a 2-0 lead. The Serbian broke again in the ninth game to win the set 6-3.
The five feet and eleven inches tall hit a single ace and 63 percent of the first serves, claiming 71 percent of the points on them in the opening set. On the other hand, Dimitrov delivered two aces but lost the advantage as he
committed a horrible five double faults. The Bulgarian managed to keep his first serve percentage at just 53 percent, clinching 71 percent of the points on them in the first set. Tipsarevic saved both break points he faced and converted the two break points
he received on Dimitrov’s serve in the opening set.
The second set saw Tipsarevic and Dimitrov breaking each other on a number of occasions. Six of the first twelve service games were broken, with both players breaking each other three times. The score was taken to 6-6, forcing
a tie-break. However, the Serbian thrashed his opponent in the tie-break, bagging three mini-breaks and capturing it 7-2.
The Belgrade resident fired two aces and 64 percent of the first serves in the second set, sealing 59 percent of the points on them. In comparison, Dimitrov hit the same number of aces but the 20-year-old had a slightly lower first
serve percentage than his opponent, hitting 63 percent of the first serves and grabbing 58 percent of the points on them. The Bulgarian returned well as he won 41 percent of the first return points in the second set. The Haskovo resident failed to save three
of the four break points he faced and could not convert four of the seven break points he received on Tipsarevic’s serve in the second set.
The Serbian is featuring at the AEGON International for the fifth time. Tipsarevic lost to Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 3-6 in the quarterfinals when he appeared here for the last time in 2009. The 26-year-old
failed to qualify for the main draw in 2008, losing to then world number 308 Samuel Groth of Australia in straight sets 6-7(0), 4-6 in the second round qualifier. In his debut appearance here, the right-handed was beaten by American Travis Rettenmaier in three
sets 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(4) in the opening round.
Tipsarevic will take on world number 59 Kei Nishikori of Japan in the semi-finals.
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