Grigor Dimitrov, the former world No. 3, exacted revenge on Alexei Popyrin in the first round of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday. Popyrin, who had upset Dimitrov in the Canadian Masters 1000 two months prior, was no match for the Bulgarian this time around.
Dimitrov, now 33, secured a hard-fought 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory over the 23-year-old Australian. The first set was a nail-biter, with both players holding serve until the tie-break. Dimitrov eventually prevailed in the tie-break, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
In the second set, Dimitrov broke Popyrin’s serve twice to take a commanding lead. Popyrin managed to hold serve once, but it was not enough to prevent Dimitrov from closing out the match in straight sets.
The victory marked a significant milestone for Dimitrov, as it was his 40th win of the year. This is the fourth time in his career that he has achieved this feat, and the first time he has done so in back-to-back years.
Dimitrov’s win-loss record over the past 17 years highlights his consistency and longevity at the top level of tennis. He has won at least 18 matches every year since 2011, and has reached the 40-win mark four times.
With his victory over Popyrin, Dimitrov has now advanced to the second round of the Shanghai Masters, where he will face either Andy Murray or Alexander Bublik.
