Brisbane R1 preview and prediction: Dimitrov vs. Murray

In a very strong ATP 250 draw, the Brisbane International is wasting no time throwing marquee matchups at tennis fans to begin the 2024 season. In addition to Rafael Nadal vs. Dominic Thiem in the first round on Tuesday, Monday marks the 13th all-time meeting between Grigor Dimitrov and Andy Murray.

Murray leads the head-to-head series 8-4, but all eight of his victories came in his prime–prior to the start of his myriad injury problems in 2017. The two veterans have faced each other only once since 2016, when Dimitrov destroyed Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Although the scoreline was alarming, it was hardly a surprise that Dimitrov emerged victorious in that contest. The 14th-ranked Bulgarian was outstanding throughout the second half of last season, headlined by a semifinal showing at the Shanghai Masters and a runner-up performance at the Paris Masters.

Murray was decent at times in 2023 and as usual played some epic Grand Slam matches, but for the most part it was another frustrating season in the twilight of his career. The 36-year-old Scot did not make an ATP quarterfinal after finishing runner-up in Doha in February and he won just four of his last 10 matches dating back to the start of the U.S. Open. Murray comes it at 42nd in the rankings, so he will almost certainly be unseeded at the Australian Open.

Based on Dimitrov’s superior form and their result last summer at Flushing Meadows, Brisbane’s No. 2 seed should have the edge in this one.

Pick: Dimitrov in 3

[yop_poll id=”723″]