Dimitrov outlasts Hurkacz in third-set tiebreaker to continue Indian Wells run
Grigor Dimitrov outlasts Hubert Hurkacz in three tight sets to reach the Indian Wells semi-finals on Thursday. Dimitrov will next meet Cameron Norrie, who routed Diego Schwartzman.
AI / Reuters / Panoramic
2021 BNP Paribas Open | Draw | Order of Play
It is shaping up to be a dream week for Grigor Dimitrov.
Building on a huge upset over No 1 seed Daniil Medvedev in round four of the BNP Paribas Open, Dimitrov continued his run at the season’s penultimate Masters 1000 event exactly 24 hours later. The 30-year-old punched his ticket to the semi-finals by pulling off another surprise, this one 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) over Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday afternoon.
Dimitrov served at 74 percent and converted three of four break points while prevailing in two hours and 37 minutes. The Bulgarian won one fewer total point that Hurkacz (100 to 101) but he seized the opportunities that mattered most to oust Indian Wells’ No 8 seed and the Miami Open champion from earlier this season.
“I stayed in it…. I kept trying and believing.”
Grigor Dimitrov
“I stayed in it,” Dimitrov explained. “Especially after that first set it was very hard for me to find my range today. I was a little bit tired from yesterday and didn’t feel I really had enough time to rest and push, but I still felt and I knew I had something in me. I knew that I had to step up and be a little bit more aggressive.
“I started reading his serve a little bit more and I had a few more looks. I kept trying and believing and I think that made the difference.”
Norrie next for Dimitrov in Indian Wells semi-finals
Next up for Dimitrov on Saturday is Cameron Norrie, a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Diego Schwartzman. Norrie is 12th in the race to the Nitto ATP Finals (effectively 11th since Rafael Nadal is out for the year). Hurkacz’s loss could help the Brit, as the Pole currently stands in the ninth spot (effectively eighth).
“I am definitely not surprised to see Cameron Norrie in the semi-finals,” Dimitrov praised. “He has been playing great — very good matches. He is a very dangerous opponent and very crafty. It is not going to be an easy match my end.”
