Bulgaria’s Dimitrov scores first US Open win
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov notched his first win at the US Open, defeating American wild-card Ryan Harrison in straight sets to win his first career match at Flushing Meadows late on August 27.
Dimitrov had lost in the first round of the last tennis Grand Slam tournament of the season each of the previous three years, but needed just over two hours to brush past Harrison 6-2, 7-6, 6-2, just as he did when they met previously in the first round at Wimbledon earlier this year.
Only during the second set, when Harrison relied on his strong serve to push the frame into a tie-break, did the American look like he might pose some challenge to Dimitrov, who looked completely in control throughout the match, converting five of 13 break-points, while Harrison was 1-for-2.
Dimitrov is having a breakout season, winning three titles on different surfaces and reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon and two Masters tournaments (in Rome and Toronto), and is seen by bookmakers as one of a group of players most likely to challenge the main favourites for the US Open title – Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic and five-time US Open champion Roger Federer.
Bulgaria’s top-ranked female player, Tsvetana Pironkova, has meanwhile been dumped out of the tournament, losing in the second round to Serbian ninth-seed Jelena Jankovic in straight sets 5-7, 4-6.
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(Photo: usopen.org)
