Shanghai Masters: Top seed Alcaraz goes down to Dimitrov in three sets

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 18 seed, upset top seed Carlos Alcaraz, from Spain, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 10 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters at the Qi Zhong Stadium on Wednesday.

Dimitrov, ranked No 19 in the world, is now through to this first ATP Masters quarter-final in 2023 where he will play Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the No 22 seed.

This was also Dimitrov’s first win over Alcaraz in four career meetings, with the Spaniard winning all three of their previous meetings in straight sets.

This was also the Bulgarian’s biggest win since beating then world No 2 Daniil Medvedev in Indian Wells in October 2021. Dimitrov is also looking to claim his first ATP title in nearly six years – the last coming at the season-ending ATP Finals in 2017, which has been the biggest title of his career.

The Bulgarian defeated Australian Aleksandar Vukic (6-4, 6-3) and Russian Karen Khachanov, the No 13 seed (7-6 (6), 6-4) in the previous rounds this week.

Earlier in the tournament, Alcaraz, ranked No 2, won against Frenchman Gregoire Barrere (6-2, 7-5) and No 30 seed Daniel Evans (7-6 (1), 6-4).

Shanghai Masters, other round of 16 results (Qi Zhong Stadium, hard, USD 8,800,000):

• Ugo Humbert (32) beat J.J. Wolf: 6-1, 6-2
• Nicolas Jarry beat Diego Schwartzman (WC): 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
• Hubert Hurkacz (16) beat Zhizhen Zhang: 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (4)
• Ben Shelton (19) beat Jannik Sinner (6): 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• Sebastian Korda (26) beat Francisco Cerundolo (20): 7-5, 7-6 (6)
• Fabian Marozsan beat Casper Ruud (8): 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4
• Tommy Paul vs. Andrey Rublev

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