Bulgarian Dimitrov downs De Minaur to reach Rotterdam semis

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov delivered another impressive performance to outclass Australia’s Alex De Minaur 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6) on Friday and reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Rotterdam Open.

The world number 28, who broke his opponent three times in the first set and bounced back from a 6-3 loss in the second to break De Minaur one more time in the third, needed two hours and 34 minutes to progress to the last four.

Dimitrov, who saved two match points, served six aces to De Minaur’s four as the Australian also served six double faults during the energy-sapping match.

SEMIFINALS NO. 43 FOR GRISHA! 🇧🇬

Grigor Dimitrov saves 2 MPs and prevails on Alex De Minaur to reach his 43rd semifinals on Tour.

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Now, after ten attempts in a row, he will try to reach his first ATP final since Rotterdam 2018. pic.twitter.com/eiLJ6yOobt

— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) February 17, 2023

The 31-year-old Dimitrov defeated Russian Aslan Karatsev and Poland’s fifth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the previous rounds without losing a set.

He will face Canada’s defending champion Felix Auger-Aliassime or Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in tomorrow’s semifinal.