Grigor Dimitrov’s great 2024 continued against Gael Monfils in the Wimbledon Championships third round. The Bulgarian, ranked 10th in the ATP rankings, has won one title in 2024 which came at the beginning of the year. He had barreled to the Brisbane International title, dropping just one set in the first round against Andy Murray throughout the tournament.
Since then, Grigor Dimitrov has gotten to two other finals, losing them to Ugo Humbert and Jannik Sinner. He also broke his record in the French Open, getting to his first-ever quarterfinal in the tournament. He eventually lost the match to Jannik Sinner.
Grigor Dimitrov Breezes Past Gael Monfils
Grigor Dimitrov had yet another fantastic showing in Wimbledon in his win against Gael Monfils. The Bulgarian defeated the Frenchman in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. 2024 has been a good year for Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian won his first title since 2017 in January and has played some very effective tennis since then.
At 3-2 and two breakpoints up in the first set, Grigor Dimitrov won an exchange at the net with a backhand slice that went beyond Gael Monfils to get the break of the Frenchman’s serve. Although the Frenchman had four more aces than Dimitrov in the set, the Bulgarian had the all-important break point and far fewer unforced errors that won him the set.
Unforced errors were also Gael Monfils’ undoing in the second set as four double faults eclipsed six points from aces. He had a total of 14 unforced errors in the second set. Grigor Dimitrov seized on one break of the Frenchman’s serve to win the set.
Grigor Dimitrov continued his 2024 “aging like fine wine”, rolling back the years for his devoted fans in the third set. As expected, Gael Monfils had moments of sheer brilliance, pulling out astronomical forehand and backhand volleys that cannoned past Grigor Dimitrov as well as sleek drop shots.
However, a powerful forehand display from Dimitrov forced an error from Monfils that produced a break of the Frenchman’s serve in the third set. Two games later, the Frenchman hit a backhand slice into the net to gift Dimitrov the break as well as the match.
“Aging Like Fine Wine”
Gael Monfils’ 16 aces weren’t enough to get him past a flying Grigor Dimitrov whose 10 unforced errors all through was 28 fewer points than the Frenchman. With Daniil Medvedev’s match against Jan-Lennard Struff suspended until tomorrow, Dimitrov remains unsure who he will face in the fourth round.
The Bulgarian has been complemented over his fantastic performances in 2024, with many saying the 33-year-old was “aging like fine wine.” He’d be looking to add the Wimbledon Championships to his Brisbane International title for 2024.
“I feel like I’m playing better tennis. The work I put in the past years is also not to be neglected. You keep on building. In our sport, you never know when you might produce an amazing match or tournament.
“Overall, I’m just very happy I’m enjoying it out there. This is the most important. Playing in front of you guys. I feel very humble at the moment. I just wanna make the most out of it.”
Grigor Dimitrov had just defeated Juncheng Shang in a five-set thriller yesterday before having to face a Gael Monfils who had had a day of rest. The Bulgarian had to come from two sets down to overcome his Chinese opponent in five sets.
”Good match. Much better than yesterday. Obviously, it’s never easy when you have to come back to play the next day after playing five sets. But I’m just glad the way I played, I put the match together, and also the way I recovered. I think that was the key.”
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