On a day of U.S. Open first-round action filled with five-setters, none was more dramatic than Grigor Dimitrov’s comeback against Alex Molcan.
Dimitrov trailed two sets to love, was behind 5-3, 30-0 in the fifth, saved a match point at 4-5, 30-40, and trailed 9-7 in the fifth-set tiebreaker but came up with answers on every single occasion to finally triumph 6-7(9), 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(11-9) after four hours and 40 minutes.
Despite squandering a two-set lead, Molcan seemed to have victory wrapped up serving at 30-0 in the ninth game of the decider. A long rally ensued, which Dimitrov ended with a clean winner that sent his opponent tumbling to the ground. After getting up, Molcan started cramping in his legs. That led to Dimitrov breaking back and staying alive.
Molcan was never quite 100 percent the rest of the way, but for the most part his cramps subsided and he was able to play out the remainder of the match. He couldn’t have come closer to winning it, too. Dimitrov fought off a first match point with a big serve at 30-40 in the 10th game. The 32-year-old saved two more at 7-9 and 8-9 in the tiebreaker, including the first of those on Molcan’s serve and the second with an amazing half-volley. Dimitrov ended up winning the last four points of the contest to take the ‘breaker 11-9 and send a mostly pro-Bulgarian crowd on Court 7 into a frenzy.
It won’t get any easier for Dimitrov, who now has a blockbuster battle on his hands against 2012 U.S. Open champion Andy Murray.
Beyond just featuring two veterans who have been at or near the top of the sport for many years, Thursday’s matchup also has an interesting dynamic in that Dimitrov is working with Daniel Vallverdu and Jamie Delgado. Vallverdu and Delgado used to coach Murray.
“I mean, it probably should be a big advantage for him to have two guys that have worked with me over the years,” Murray said after defeating Corentin Moutet in straight sets. “But we’ll find out in a couple of days.”
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