🎾 In a nail-biting five-set battle at the U.S. Open, Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov managed to outlast sixth seed Andrey Rublev, securing his spot in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. Dimitrov triumphed with a gripping 6-3, 7-6(3), 1-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory on Sunday.
🔥 The ninth seed showcased his prowess by winning 80% of his first-serve points and firing 17 aces, frustrating Rublev to the max. Tensions flared early as Rublev slammed his racket onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court and accidentally cut his wrist during the first set, requiring medical attention.
🏟️ The match captivated the New York crowd, with none other than Serena Williams enjoying the action with the event's signature honey deuce cocktail. The decisive fifth set swung Dimitrov's way, turning the tide in his favor.
😤 Rublev's frustration was evident when he started the fourth game of the first set with two double faults and made errors that led to Dimitrov's first break of the match. Despite Dimitrov's strong start, Rublev battled back to tie the match by winning the next two sets.
💬 \"The steal of the second set really helped me to keep on believing and to keep on trusting in my game and in my body,\" Dimitrov told reporters. \"After the first couple of sets he started playing amazing. I mean, there's not much else I could have done, so I had to pull the reins back a little bit and wait for an opportunity. It happened in the fifth. I think that was the big difference today. After that I ran with the match, but it was very challenging.\"
