US Open: Dimitrov eliminates Murray, sets Zverev blockbuster

Grigor Dimitrov defeated Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. He’ll play No 12 seed Alexander Zverev in the next round

Grigor Dimitrov US Open 2023 (Action Plus/Panoramic)

Tennis Majors

August 31, 2023

US Open •Second round • completed

See draw

A. MurrayvsG. Dimitrov

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the No 19 seed, continued his strong season in 2023 by defeating Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 to make the third round of the US Open in New York on Thursday afternoon.

In what was looking like it could be a blockbuster of a match after Dimitrov went five sets in his first round match against Molcan, the Bulgarian did an excellent job of shutting down Murray’s game, improving his head to head against the former world No 1 to 4-8.

“Happy to finish in straight sets” – Dimitrov

Dimitrov struck double the winners that Murray did, breaking the Brit on seven occasions across the two-hour, 46-minute encounter and was understandably happy with his performance.

“It was a great day. Happy to finish in straight sets. I think that was a big key for me. Just very happy how I moved overall on the court. Physically I felt great. I felt recovered after the first match after playing for so long. It was (a) very disciplined performance today and very happy with the way that I managed my game over the course of the match,” the Bulgarian said in his post-match press conference.

Dimitrov, ranked No 19, will face No 12 seed Alexander Zverev next. The German holds a 5-1 edge over the Bulgarian, winning their last five matches, including two of their clashes in 2023.

“He’s an amazing player. We played quite a few matches, and the last couple of times we played against each other, he got the best of me,” Dimitrov said. “But of course, you know, it’s another match. I’m not gonna approach this match as any other exceptional match. It’s just another run for me. As I said, and I’m always very focused on my side of the net. Of course, I appreciate the challenge in every player that I play against, and I think everyone, each one on their own, they have very different qualities when we get out there to play. So now I’m just gonna focus on that. I have a day to recover, a day to see what I can potentially try to do, like, a little bit and structure a good game plan. That’s all.”

In the previous round of the US Open, the Bulgarian overhauled Slovak Alex Molcan (6-7 (9), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (9)). Murray, ranked No 37, defeated Frenchman Corentin Moutet (6-2, 7-5, 6-3) during the first round of the Flushing Meadows tournament.