We found Grigor Dimitrov. Like in 2014, like in 2017, like in 2019. It’s a bit like the story of his life: the Bulgarian’s career oscillates between black holes and episodic rebirths. Since the start of the week, its star has been shining in the Bercy sky after having dangerously faded.
Saturday November 4, 17e world player qualified for the final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, only the second of his career in the most prestigious category of tennis after the Grand Slams. His first, in Cincinnati (Ohio) in 2017, remains the last title in his trophy cabinet, which has eight.
Before the semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev, the 15,000 spectators on the central court came to enjoy a one-handed backhand duel of aesthetes, the opportunities to do so being increasingly rare on the circuit. In the end, it was Dimitrov who put on the show, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3, 6-7, 7-6). The Greek (world No. 6) was treated to a great day recital from the man whose cumbersome nickname, “Baby Fed”, stuck to the racket for a long time.
The Bulgarian was the first culprit: he never hid having copied in shorts the gestures and technique of his idol, Roger Federer. The Swiss has retired from the courts for a year, but on Saturday, his ghost prowled the court: Dimitrov’s aerial “figures” were carbon copies of the former “maestro”, as much as his backhand dazzling performances. In this area, the comparison with his glorious elder has perhaps rarely been as relevant as with his slice, prodigiously close on an indoor hard surface.
“The slice helps a lot to prepare for a point. And it’s true that it’s always been a very natural move for me, I use it a lot. In fact, it’s probably one of the first shots I learned to master and that’s why I’m so comfortable with it,” he said on Friday, after his round of 16 against the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, his 40e victory of the year. A record that he had not achieved since the 2017 season, completed by a crown at the Masters and a 3e world place.
“I’m trying to give myself another chance”
“He defended really well, he played solidly and made few unforced errors,” summarized Tsitsipas. Returning to a set everywhere at the end of a one-sided decisive game, his four break points in the third set will probably haunt the Greek. The last decisive game was a fireworks display from the Bulgarian with three passing passes and a lob “which deserve to be hung in the Louvre”, we heard in the stands. Dimitrov has already offered himself on Wednesday (on 2e round) the world number 3, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, three weeks after knocking out the Spanish crack Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai (China). At 32, he is finishing this 2023 season with a bang.
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