Dimitrov stays alive in Turin race, Popyrin upsets Medvedev in Paris

Grigor Dimitrov kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals with a thrilling comeback win on Wednesday at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The eighth seed dug deep to outlast Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7(9), 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the third round at the indoor ATP Masters 1000. Dimtrov saved all three break points faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, in a gruelling two-hour, 45-minute victory.

Dimitrov is currently 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, trailing ninth-placed Alex de Minaur by 305 points. The 33-year-old could move inside the qualification spots with a run to the championship match in Paris. 

“It’s tough conditions, at the end of the year it’s very tricky,” said Dimitrov, who improved to 12-0 in opening rounds in Paris. “Everyone wants to empty their tank completely.

“He played an amazing first set. I'm far from the game I really want to play, but I'm adjusting. To win matches in that manner is way better for me than playing a clean match. I'm really happy with the fight. Of course, I really want to win every single match, but if I'm able to [show] that fight, I'm in a good place.

“I would give a lot to be in [Turin]. I’m in a place where I am still a contender, I’m still fighting against the best players in the world, and still beating the younger guys. This gives me confidence and makes me happy.”

Feeling the love in Paris ?

Last year’s finalist @GrigorDimitrov extends his unbeaten record to 12-0 in opening rounds at the #RolexParisMasters! pic.twitter.com/2Jzvf73oKW

Dimitrov would leapfrog Novak Djokovic (sixth), Casper Ruud (seventh) and Andrey Rublev (eighth), who are all unable to amass further points this week, if he were to lift the trophy.

Earlier, Alexei Popyrin’s standout year on the ATP Tour continued in emphatic fashion. The Australian stood firm to outlast fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4) and book his spot in the third round.

In a high-octane battle, Popyrin let slip a 4-1 lead in the deciding set, but dialed back in to secure his third career-win over a Top 5 opponent. The 25-year-old also claimed his first Lexus ATP Head2Head win against Medvedev (1-3).

Popyrin, who won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Montreal in August, will face either Basel champion Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Karen Khachanov for a spot in the quarter-finals. 

Medvedev, who suffered his third consecutive opening-round loss in Paris, is still bidding to win his first title of 2024.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]