In a stunning upset, eleventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov dethroned top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 6-4 in the Miami Open quarterfinals, marking his first victory over a top-five player in nearly five years. Dimitrov’s triumph sets up a semifinal clash with fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev, who defeated unseeded Fabian Marozsan 6-3, 7-5.
Alcaraz, the reigning champion, struggled to find his rhythm against Dimitrov’s aggressive play. The Bulgarian broke Alcaraz’s serve twice in the first set, taking it 6-2. In the second set, Alcaraz rallied back from a 4-2 deficit, breaking Dimitrov at love and holding serve to level the set at 4-4. However, Dimitrov regained control, winning the final two games to seal the victory.
This win marks a significant milestone for Dimitrov, who had not defeated a top-five player since his victory over Roger Federer in the 2019 US Open quarterfinals. It also boosts his confidence ahead of the upcoming clay-court season, where he has historically performed well.
On the women’s side, fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina battled through a grueling three-set match against No. 27 Victoria Azarenka, ultimately prevailing 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (2) in the semifinals. Rybakina will face either No. 14 Ekaterina Alexandrova or unseeded Danielle Collins in the final.
Rybakina, ranked fourth on the WTA Tour, has been pushed to three sets in all but one match this tournament. Despite the physical toll, she remains determined to capture her third title of the year.
