Grigor Dimitrov defeated American Frances Tiafoe, ranked tenth, in straight sets with a convincing score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday, advancing to the fourth round of Wimbledon, where he will face sixth-seeded Dane Holger Rune. Tiafoe reached the All England Club after winning his first title on grass at the Stuttgart Open last month, but the experienced Dimitrov, who had previously reached the semifinals in London, won over the course of two days.
When asked for his thoughts on Dimitrov prior to the match, Tiafoe emphasized the Bulgarian's serve, net play, and effective groundstrokes. It was clear that Tiafoe was well-prepared after defeating Dimitrov four years ago in the Australian Open round of 16 in what he described as an "absolute war." However, this time, the American had no answer to the varied shots from his opponent's arsenal.
Dimitrov lived up to expectations and could not be stopped on his serve, hitting 13 aces and winning 92 percent of his first serve points, leading by two sets before play was suspended on Saturday at the start of the third set. When the match resumed today, Dimitrov extended his lead by breaking Tiafoe's serve, quickly causing the American to lose his composure, expressed through his frustration as he hit the ball away between points.
In contrast, Dimitrov remained calm and the 32-year-old began his game with powerful shots from the baseline and stunning touches at the net, firing 33 winners and leaving the younger, quicker Tiafoe without any response. The Bulgarian player secured three match points without any break of his serve and clinched the victory with a brilliant volley at the net while Tiafoe unsuccessfully attempted to mount a comeback.
