“Grigor Dimitrov is one of the best showmen in tennis. Always some highlights when you play against him.”
These were the words of Dominic Thiem ahead of Monday’s round-robin match against Dimitrov at the ATP Finals in London.
And they certainly proved profound.
Deep in the third set, the Bulgarian, playing for the first time at the season-ending event, charged into the net and played a backhand drop-volley, heavily laced with backspin, for a winner.
This feathery touch gifted Dimitrov a break; although he was unable to to serve out the match on his first attempt, he did on the second to record a 6-3 5-7 7-5 win.
He tops the Pete Sampras round-robin group by the barest of margins over David Goffin, who later on Monday beat an injury-hampered Rafael Nadal in three sets.
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