Grigor “G-Unit” Dimitrov edges out Diego “El Peque” Schwartzman in sudden death to reach first UTS final
The Bulgarian will play either Benoit Paire or Andrey Rublev in the final later on Sunday
Grigor Dimitrov | © Tennis Majors/UTS
Grigor “G-Unit” Dimitrov snatched a place in his first UTS final on Sunday as he fended off a brave comeback from Diego “El Peque” Schwartzman to win in sudden death,15-9, 14-9, 7-21, 4-22, 2-0.
The Bulgarian was sensational in the first two quarters but “El Peque” hit back brilliantly and he had the momentum going into sudden death, only for “G-Unit” to win an epic, 30-shot rally and then seal it on his first match point.
Dimitrov will play Andrey (Rublo) Rublev later on Sunday for the UTS Frankfurt by Builder.ai title.
“He played amazing in the third and fourth,” an exhausted Dimitrov said. “I couldn’t have done anything. Last two points could have gone either way. He’s such a fighter, you should never count him out.”
Dimitrov makes perfect start
“El Peque” had dropped just one quarter in his three group wins but the Argentinian began slowly, making a series of backhand errors as he trailed 4-0. He found his range soon enough, but Dimitrov, the “G-Unit”, was using his backhand slice nicely and was in control early. A net cord winner helped him lead 6-2 with four minutes to go.
Dimitov was just not missing in the early stages, matching Schwartzman for placement and upping him for power. A 6-2 lead became 8-2 but El Peque suddenly came to the net, winning two straight points. A Dimitrov fault and a brilliant forehand down the line made it 8-6 with just under two minutes to go.
Dimitrov righted the ship to lead 10-6 with 34 seconds to go, prompting Schwartzman to use his next point x 3 card and it worked. But Dimitrov won the vital point after to go 11-9 and then used his own next point x 3 and he won it when Schwartzman netted a backhand to make it 14-9. Schwartzman therefore needed to win six straight quarter points to steal the quarter but he faulted on the first.
“I’s just the beginning, I feel good,” Dimitrov said. “We’re both settling into our game now. Diego’s such a quality ball-striker from both wings so you need to do something creative.”
Schwartzman said he needed some help to get back into the match.
“I need some mistakes from him,” he said. “He was not missing the ball and ripping when he had the chance. He deserved the first but it’s different in the second one, so let’s go.”
Dimitrov stays in the zone
The two players continued to produce some long, outstanding rallies and more often than not, it was Dimitrov who came out on top, happy to be patient until he had his chance.
“El Peque” put his arms above his head in celebration when Dimitrov finally made an unforced error and he levelled at 4-4 soon after.
Schwartzman had the crowd on their feet when he played a behind the back shot, chasing down a lob, but Dimitrov was just in total control, holding the ball almost on a string at times. He extended his lead to 7-4 before “El Peque” finally got the ball past his man with a big forehand.
But Dimitrov was enjoying himself but at 9-6, Schwartzman played his next point x 3 card and Dimitrov faulted, making the scores even with just 25 seconds to go. Dimitrov played a beautiful point to go ahead again and Dimitrov, using his next point x 3 card, won it to go up 13-9 with the time run out.
Schwartzman had a chance in quarter points but Dimitrov was just too good, rallying brilliantly until “El Peque” finally coughed up the error.
“It was a few points here and there, it could have gone either way,” Dimitrov said, modestly, while Schwartzman admitted he was up against it.
“Being honest, I think I’m doing great. I don’t know what the people think, I think they’re enjoying it. Let’s do this – in the next five minutes, the people can vote and if they vote for me, they give me a quarter.”
Schwartzman goes for broke
The Argentinian had nothing to lose at this stage and decided to throw caution to the wind. From 3-3, “El Peque” won five straight points, going to the net and thumping forehands whenever he had the opportunity.
Schwartzman surged ahead 8-3 and turned it into 11-4, with just three minutes to go.
His coach, Bruno Tiberti, continued to shout enthusiastic support for his man: “He’s getting tired,” he said, at one stage, and Schwartzman responded, loosening up even more and extending his lead. At the end of the eight minutes, he led 20-7 and Dimitrov dumped his serve into the net, sending the match into a fourth quarter.
“It’s a great match, great points, very intense, we cannot breathe sometimes,” Schwartzman said. “The first two he was much better than me, this one I had good points, intense. Let’s see what happens in the next one.”
Dimitrov was gasping for breath, too. “He played amazing in that one, not much more to say,” he added.
Tiring Dimitrov fades in the fourth
“G-Unit” looked tired at the start of the fourth quarter and Schwartzman, so strong from the baseline and so confident in his fitness, immediately moved up 5-1.
Suddenly it was “El Peque” who couldn’t miss, the Argentinian firing forehands into all corners of the court, stretching Dimitrov and making him look a distinct second-best. Nine straight points took him ahead 10-1 and Dimitrov had very little left to give.
Schwartzman, by contrast, continued to shorten the points and even sped up between points. “You’re an animal, I don’t know how you do it,” coach Bruno Tiberti said. Dimitrov tried his next point x 3 card at 12-2 down but couldn’t take it.”
“El Peque” won eight straight points to lead 18-2 and then at 18-4, won his next point x 3 with a brilliant backhand return to make it 21-4, and then won the first of quarter points to level up and take it to sudden death.
“The key was to stay focused in the match. I think I got more aggressive, he missed a few balls and that’s why I won the two quarters.”
Sudden death goes to Dimitrov
The first point of sudden death was an absolute epic, both players totally drained afterwards but it was Dimitrov who won it as Schwartzman netted a forehand.
That gave him a match point and he took it, as Schwartzman netted a backhand.
