Dimitrov makes another early exit in Miami
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov lost in straight sets to big-serving American John Isner in the third round of the Miami Masters 6-7 (2-7), 2-6.
Dimitrov started strongly and seemed to have put behind the serving problems that have plagued him of late. He had two break points early on, which Isner saved, but fell apart half-way through the first set tie-break with back-to-back unforced errors.
His service deteriorated in the second set, with unforced errors continuing to come at the most inopportune times, while Isner gave his opponent no opening to break back. “I don’t believe he played his best tonight, but I feel like I had a lot to do with that,” Isner said after the match.
Dimitrov had a disappointing North American spring hard-court season, losing in the second round in Acapulco where he was defending champion, and bounced by lower seeds in both the Indian Wells and Miami Masters.
He is next expected to play in the Monte-Carlo Masters next month, which ushers in the European clay-court season. Last year, Dimitrov exited early in Monte-Carlo and Madrid, but reached the semi-final of the Rome Masters and won the Bucharest Open on clay before a surprise first-round exit at the French Open.
(Grigor Dimitrov, photo: mirsasha/flickr.com)