London: Grigor Dimitrov claimed the biggest title of his career and sent out a huge statement of intent as the stylish Bulgarian beat David Goffin 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to emerge triumphant at the ATP Tour Finals, the concluding tournament of the tennis calendar, here Sunday.
The 26-year-old recovered from losing his opening two service games to finally get the better of the willowy Belgian player, but it was fiercely-fought two-and-a-half hour duel with Goffin saving four match points before finally succumbing.
Dimitrov’s unbeaten run this week here earned him $2.5 million while the 1,500 ranking points have catapulted him to end an impressive year ranked third in the world – behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
More significantly perhaps, landing the unofficial ‘fifth’ Grand Slam appears to be proof that the former junior Wimbledon champion, once dubbed ‘Baby Federer’ because of his easy-on-the-eye style, has finally come of age.
“It’s been an amazing week for me,” Dimitrov said on court after becoming the first player to win the elite eight-man tournament on his first appearance in the event since Spaniard Alex Corretja beat countryman Carlos Moya in 1998. “It’s such an honour to be here and this week has been one of the best weeks I’ve ever had.”
Many of the capacity crowd in the O2 Arena had doubtless booked their tickets in anticipation of watching the top two seeds Federer and Nadal go head-to-head but the two newcomers provided a fitting end to an extraordinary ATP season.
Goffin managed only two games against Dimitrov when they met Wednesday in group play but recovered to beat Dominic Thiem to reach the semis where he stunned six-time champion Federer.
For Dimitrov, he was quickly a different proposition in the final, using his pinpoint accuracy to keep his gifted opponent under control and he was way ahead on the winner count as he moved 4-3 ahead.
A double-fault at 30-30 followed by a wayward forehand, though, gifted Dimitrov a break and seemed to energise the Bulgarian. Dimitrov began to assert himself and piled on the pressure when Goffin served at 5-6. Goffin saved four set points, two with forehand winners, but double-faulted on a game point of his own before Dimitrov forced an error to wrap up the opener.
Goffin needed just one break of serve to take the match into a decider, but then looked distinctly out of breath. Suddenly Dimitrov was up 5-2 in the third set and 0-40 up on Goffin’s serve. Somehow Goffin survived to extend the contest to another game, but that was as far as he got.
Reuters