Dimitrov steps up to batter Fish in Perth

 

Originally published on: 06/01/12 13:38

Grigor Dimitrov secured a fine 6-2 6-1 Hopman Cup victory over Mardy Fish that suggested 2012 may be the year that the Bulgarian begins to deliver on his much-hyped promise.

The 20-year-old right-hander was in fine form against the American, 10 years his senior, and levelled the tie for his nation against the USA after Bethanie Mattek-Sands had defeated Tsvetana Pironkova 6-4 6-4 earlier in the day.

“You have these days where everything you touch goes in and luckily it was one of those days,” said Dimitrov.

“Mardy wasn’t at the top of his game but we had some great rallies and a good bit of entertainment as well.

“I just tried to go out there and enjoy it. I’m playing a top 10 player – I’ve seen him play a lot – but I just wanted to come out on court and improvise a little bit, hit a few shots and make the best of it.

“Today was one of those days where everything you touch goes in.”

Dimitrov was soon back out on court alongside Tsvetana Pironkova for the mixed doubles – a clash he was determined to finish quickly in order to catch a flight for Sydney where he will compete in qualifying tomorrow.

“I’m playing tomorrow unfortunately so I have to get on a run but that’s how it is,” he shrugged after he and Pironkova had defeated the USA 8-5 in the tie-break at the invitational event, one that Dimitrov has sincerely enjoyed being a part of.

“This tournament was great, the best surface you’ll ever get,” he said. “Unfortunately tomorrow we have to go back to the routine and I don’t like it too much to be honest,” he joked, “but we had a great experience, great matches, so we’re very happy, very pleased.”

Dimitrov, whose classy style has been compared to that of a young Roger Federer in the past, faces Jurgen Zopp in qualifying for the Apia International Sydney tomorrow. 

Last year, he marked his Australian summer with four match wins on the bounce when he came through qualifying and beat Andrey Golubev before falling to Stanislas Wawrinka in round two at the Australian Open.

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