Grigor Dimitrov has turned back the clock at the Miami Open.
At 32 years old, Dimitrov is without question playing the best tennis of his career. In fact, the Bulgarian will be back in the top 10 for the first time since November of 2018 when the new ATP rankings come out next week. He played great last season and has raised his level even higher in 2024 with a 20-4 record that includes a title in Brisbane. Dimitrov now finds himself in another final–this time at the Masters 1000 level–following wins over Alejandro Tabilo, Yannick Hanfmann, Hubert Hurkacz (in a third-set tiebreaker), Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev.
Standing in Dimitrov’s way of what would be tied for his second-biggest title ever (he won the Nitto ATP Finals in 2017) is none other than the current best player in the world. Jannik Sinner has been nothing short of dominant dating back to last fall. The 22-year-old is 24-1 in his last 25 matches and 34-2 in his last 36. This hot streak includes four titles (Beijing, Vienna, the Australian Open, and Rotterdam) and he is one victory away from another after taking out Andrea Vavassori, Tallon Griekspoor, Christopher O’Connell, Tomas Machac, and Daniil Medvedev with just one set lost to Griekspoor.
Both players have displayed an absolutely awesome level in Miami and the result is their fourth head-to-head showdown on Sunday afternoon. Sinner has won two of their three previous encounters; 6-3, 6-4 last season in the Miami third round and 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 during the fall swing in Beijing. That was preceded by a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory for Dimitrov at the 2020 Rome Masters.
As well as Dimitrov is playing in Miami, the chips are obviously stacked against him in the final. Sinner made quick of him at this same tournament last season and that was long before the Italian emerged as the player he is now. Moreover, Sinner has been crushing opponents left and right throughout the fortnight whereas Dimitrov survived tough three-setters against Tabilo, Hurkacz, and Zverev. The grind has been draining from both a physical and mental perspective for the veteran.
Dimitrov’s prize is making a long-awaited return to the top 10, but the trophy will almost certainly go to Sinner.
Pick: Sinner 2
who ya got?
Both players at the top of their respective games…will be fun to watch. Sinner in 2.
Sinner in 3!
Dimitrov will have to come out firing and take the first! Should be a great game.
Dimitrov in 2
wowzer
If Dimitrov brings that same form he wins at least a set
Let’s hope the mens final is better than the women’s.
A 3 set match hopefully.
quality of women’s final was actually pretty good, lots of drama at the end of the third, good atmosphere, great champion
what third?
Dimitrov has had the right mindset leading up to the final. Does he have the mental strength to maintain that same mindset in the final?
He needs to leverage his experience to win this. Sinner is effectively telling him that he doesn’t have an experience edge up to this point.