Get rid of Alcaraz, Grigor Dimitrov thwarts competition for the top four in Miami

Grigor Dimitrov put in a solid performance in the quarterfinals of the Miami Masters. He eliminated the first seed, Carlos Alcaraz.

AP PHOTO/MARTA LAVANDIER

Grigor Dimitrov celebrated his victory over top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 Miami tournament on Thursday (28/3/2024). Dimitrov will meet Alexander Zverev.

MIAMI, THURSDAY — The scenario of the competition between the top seeds in the tennis ATP Masters 1000 tournament is running smoothly until Grigor Dimitrov won the quarterfinals. Dimitrov denied a meeting of the top four players in the semifinals after beating top seed Carlos Alcaraz.

The scenario of the four big competitors is about to come true when the second to fourth seeds, namely Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev, have already secured their tickets to the semifinals. In the match at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, United States, on Thursday (28/3/2024), Zverev defeated Fabian Marozsan with a score of 6-3, 7-5. He followed in the footsteps of Sinner and Medvedev who won their quarterfinals a day earlier.

When Sinner and Medvedev were confirmed to meet in the semifinals on Friday, Zverev awaited his opponent, namely the winner of the Alcaraz vs Dimitrov match. A 3-1 advantage in their previous meetings, as well as being the Indian Wells Masters champion from March 6-17, makes Alcaraz more favored to win.

However, Dimitrov performed well and was very energetic in dealing with Alcaraz's aggressive game, who is 20 years old, just like when he won the second round of the Shanghai Masters in 2023. The competition in Shanghai was the last meeting of the two tennis players before they met in Miami. In Miami, Dimitrov even won in two sets, 6-2, 6-4.

Also read: Grand Slam Champions work extra hard

Dimitrov showed his readiness to face Alcaraz who is 12 years younger than him. He immediately attacked the two-time Grand Slam holder and former world number one tennis player, taking a 3-0 lead.

GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP/AL BELLO

Carlos Alcaraz failed to reach the ball while competing against Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami on Thursday (28/3/2024). Dimitrov defeated Alcaraz with a score of 6-2, 6-4.

He applies pressure by frequently moving closer to the net and forcing Alcaraz to chase the ball from corner to corner. Fourteen out of nineteen net shots (74 percent) resulted in points for Dimitrov, while Alcaraz only earned seven points out of fourteen attempts at net shots (50 percent).

To defeat him, there is no other way but to play with my maximum ability. I came to this match with a very high focus.

In the second set, Dimitrov's 4-1 lead was reduced by Alcaraz to 4-3. However, Dimitrov remained consistent and won the game in one hour and 32 minutes when he broke the Spanish tennis player's serve in the tenth game.

"To beat him, there is no other way except to play with my maximum ability. I came to this match with very high focus," commented Dimitrov.

Also read: Alexandrova, Miami's Top Tennis Tackle

Dimitrov, who has competed in the professional tennis arena since 2008, reached his best in 2017. He earned the nickname "baby Federer" because he has a one-handed backhand that resembles Federer's.

However, the Bulgarian tennis player has difficulty breaking through the domination of Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. In Grand Slam tournaments, his best results are reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon 2014, Australian Open 2017, and US Open 2019.

GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP/AL BELLO

Grigor Dimitrov when appearing against Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Masters 1000 Miami tournament, Thursday (28/3/2024).

After 15 months in the top 10 rankings in the world, with the highest position at number three since July 2017, its position has continued to decline. However, six years after leaving that position, Dimitrov has the opportunity to return to the top 10 rankings in the world by reaching the Miami Masters 2024 semifinals. Currently, the Bulgarian tennis player is ranked 12th.

In response to his defeat, Alcaraz stated that he felt like a 13-year-old tennis player who couldn't play well. "I am very frustrated because I don't know what to do, I can't see where Grigor's weaknesses are. I couldn't do anything in the match," said Alcaraz, who described Dimitrov's game as so perfect.

With this defeat, Alcaraz failed to win the "Sunshine Double", winning Indian Wells and Miami Masters consecutively. The last male singles player to achieve this was Federer in 2017.

Alcaraz's failure also opened the opportunity for Sinner to shift his status as the world's second-ranked tennis player. Sinner will climb up one level if he becomes the champion.

(AP PHOTO/LYNNE SLADKY

Jannik Sinner signed autographs for tennis fans at the ATP Masters 1000 Miami tournament on March 27, 2024. Sinner advanced to the semifinals after defeating Tomas Machac.

The 22-year-old Italian tennis player was the most consistent during the first three months of 2024. He won the first two tournaments, the Australian Open and ATP 500 Rotterdam, then reached the semi-finals of the Indian Wells Masters. The only tennis player above Sinner and Alcaraz was Djokovic, who was absent in Miami.

Pay the loss

In the women's singles competition, Elena Rybakina has the opportunity to pay for her defeat in the WTA 1000 Miami final in 2023 when she lost to Petra Kvitova. Rybakina, who was placed as the fourth seed, advanced to the final after overcoming tough resistance from three-time WTA Miami champion, Victoria Azarenka, with a score of 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (2).

The final against Collins on Saturday will be Rybakina's fifth final in the WTA 1000 level. Two titles were won from her previous four finals, namely from Indian Wells and Rome 2023.

As for Collins, the match against Rybakina was her first final in this top-level WTA tournament. Her best result before this was a semifinal also obtained in Miami in 2018.

(AP PHOTO/LYNNE SLADKY

Elena Rybakina celebrates after defeating Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals of the WTA 1000 Miami, Thursday (28/3/2024).

This achievement was accomplished in Collins' final year of competing in professional tennis. She has announced her retirement at the end of 2024 and whatever the outcome in Miami, it will not change her decision.

"I have had some good results here before, but this year feels more special," said Collins who defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals. Collins put an end to the surprise made by Alexandrova, who eliminated the top seed, Iga Swiatek, in the fourth round and Jessica Pegula (5) in the quarterfinals. (AFP)