Miami: Grigor Dimitrov edges Francisco Cerundolo in a thriller

Grigor Dimitrov reached no Miami Open quarter-finals between 2011 and 2023. The Bulgarian has been taking part in nicely in Florida for the final two seasons, reaching the ultimate a 12 months in the past and shifting into this week’s semi-final.

The veteran confronted Francisco Cerundolo within the quarter-final and saved a match level in an exhilarating 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 victory in two hours and 48 minutes. Grigor denied a match level on serve within the twelfth recreation of the decider.

He introduced the victory residence and virtually collapsed after the duel, with the docs checking his blood stress and serving to him depart the courtroom!

Vainqueur 7-6 au troisième de Francisco Cerundolo en sauvant une balle de match, Grigor Dimitrov est allé au bout de l’effort pour se qualifier en demi-finales du Masters de Miami.

Le Bulgare a fini dans un sale état. Il était proche du malaise.pic.twitter.com/orpv4xPY5p

— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) March 27, 2025

Grigor took seven factors greater than Francisco. The Bulgarian made the distinction behind the primary serve and dropped serve two instances from 5 alternatives supplied to his opponent. The Argentine performed towards 13 break factors. 

He defended ten to stay in rivalry and squandered his alternative to maneuver excessive. Dimitrov landed 30 winners and 46 unforced errors, whereas his rival hit 31 direct factors and 43 errors. They have been equally good from the baseline and in service winners.

Grigor Dimitrov, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Grigor cast a decisive 14-3 benefit on the internet, taking part in extra aggressive tennis and prevailing after a titanic battle. They traded breaks originally of the duel. Dimitrov denied a break level within the seventh recreation and opened a 5-4 benefit.

The Bulgarian earned 5 set factors on the return in recreation ten. Cerundolo stepped in and denied them, surviving after 9 minutes and increasing the set. The set went right into a tie break, and the 14th seed created two extra set factors at 6-4 after the rival’s forehand error.

Dimitrov missed a routine volley on the second, bringing his rival again to 6-6. Francisco drew the rival’s mistake on his first set level at 7-6, defending seven set factors and prevailing after an hour and 11 minutes. Grigor stored his motivation and offered 5 comfy holds within the second set. 

Francisco Cerundolo & Grigor Dimitrov, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

The veteran performed an ideal drop shot within the first recreation of the second set and clinched a break after the rival’s mistake. The Bulgarian fired a service winner in recreation two to cement the break and held at love two video games later for 3-1. 

Dimitrov closed the sixth recreation with a service winner and landed a forehand drive-volley winner at 4-3 to keep up the benefit. The 14th seed held at love within the tenth recreation, taking the set 6-4 and introducing a decider after an hour and 48 minutes.

Grigor Dimitrov, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Cerundolo grabbed a break within the second recreation of the ultimate set after the rival’s unfastened forehand and held for 3-0. Grigor stored his composure and pulled the break again in recreation 5 after a wayward forehand from his rival.

They offered six comfy holds, with Francisco opening a 6-5 benefit. The Bulgarian squandered three recreation factors within the twelfth recreation and supplied his rival a break level after a unfastened forehand. Dimitrov denied it with a service winner on the second serve. 

Grigor Dimitrov, Miami Open 2025© Stream screenshot

 

He held after one other deuce, leveling the rating at 6-6 and gaining confidence. Grigor cracked a forehand crosscourt winner within the first level for a mini-break. The Bulgarian hit a service winner for 3-0 and welcomed the rival’s unfastened forehand for an additional mini-break and a 4-1 benefit. 

The 14th seed landed an unreturned serve for 5-2 and painted a forehand return winner within the ninth level for his third mini-break and three set factors. The veteran welcomed the rival’s forehand mistake on the primary, claiming the tie break 7-3 and prevailing after an enormous battle.