Dimitrov stuns Alcaraz in Shanghai Masters fourth round

Already an upset-filled Rolex Shanghai Masters, Grigor Dimitrov blew the draw completely wide open when he upset Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 during fourth-round action on Wednesday evening. Dimitrov prevailed after two hours and 10 minutes to set up a surprising quarterfinal contest against Nicolas Jarry.

The 32-year-old Bulgarian even had a chance to win the first set, as he led 5-3 before losing four games in a row. However, he got back on track with an immediate break in the second and never looked back. Another quick break of Alcaraz in the third (at 1-1) proved be decisive.

“I stayed in the match, that was the big thing–especially after that first set,” Dimitrov explained. “I don’t know what happened to him at 5-4. He played an amazing game at 5-4, and at 6-5 another amazing game. I was creating opportunities; I kept on believing that I would get another one and another one. I think after that second break in the second set, I was able to put quite a few returns in and I was able to read the game a little bit better. I think in the third set it was a little bit cat-and-mouse to be honest. We both played a solid set; he made a few errors. I stayed throughout the course very solid.

“I knew what I had to do against him; I knew I had to apply constant pressure. I had to keep putting him in an uncomfortable position. He’s a player who doesn’t like to be on the back foot; I mean which player does, right? I kept on using every opportunity I had; I was coming in a little bit, trying to put him in an awkward position.”

In addition to Dimitrov and Jarry, Andrey Rublev, Tommy Paul, and Ugo Humbert are also remaining in the top half of the draw. At No. 7 in the world, Rublev is the highest-ranked player left in the field. Paul, who faces Rublev in the fourth round on Wednesday night, is the second highest at No. 12.

This will be the first Masters 1000 tournament in history without a top-10 seed in the quarterfinals if Paul defeats Rublev.