Matches of the Year: No. 10 – Dimitrov vs. Djokovic

The Grandstand presents its 2013 Matches of the Year, continuing with the start of the Top 10. Just sneaking into the elite field is one of the biggest upsets of the season: Grigor Dimitrov’s second-round take-down of Novak Djokovic at the Mutua Madrid Open.

Grigor Dimitrov d. Novak Djokovic 7-6(6), 6-7(8), 6-3 – Madrid Masters second round

Dimitrov had already been saddled with close losses to Andy Murray in Brisbane and Miami and to Rafael Nadal in Monte-Carlo. All it took was the world No. 1 on the other side of the net for Dimitrov to get over the hump.

Little more than two weeks removed from a huge win over Nadal in the Monte-Carlo final, Djokovic was looking to maintain clay-court momentum heading into the French Open. However, his Madrid campaign never got off the ground. Djokovic went down to Dimitrov in his tournament opener after three hours and six minutes of grueling tennis that featured a pair of unbearably dramatic tiebreakers.

Dimitrov saved one set point at 4-5, 30-40 in the first then fought off two more at 4-6 (with an ace off the back of the service line) and 5-6 in the tiebreaker. The 21-year-old earned a second straight mini-break with a forehand winner at 6-6 before Djokovic surrendered a fourth consecutive point with a return error.

An incredible second set saw both players struggle with physical problems; Djokovic re-aggravated an ankle injury sustained during Davis Cup action and Dimitrov suffered from cramping. Once trailing 4-2 in the second, Djokovic returned from a medical timeout to break Dimitrov and get back in the match. An epic tiebreaker to decide the middle frame of play saw the top seed save a match point at 6-7 with a successful serve-and-volley move. Dimitrov, who had survived two set points with spectacular winners (one in the middle of a cramp), finally capitulated at 8-9 with a lunging forehand in the net.

Anyone either in the stadium or watching on television could not have imagined Dimitrov having anything left, either mentally or physically, for the decider. The underdog, though, had other ideas. He unexpectedly seized an immediate break for 1-0 and consolidated it the entire way for a 5-3 advantage. Dimitrov added one more break for good measure, finishing off the biggest win of his career when Djokovic sent a forehand wide at 3-5, 15-40.

“Of course this has been what I’ve been working for; to play matches like that,” Dimitrov explained. “And why not win them?”

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