Tennis Legend Grigor Dimitrov Battles to French Open Quarterfinals at Age 33
Paris, May 29th – Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov, seeded 10th, reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time in his career at the age of 33. Dimitrov showcased his tenacity and resilience, defeating 8th-seeded Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) in a hard-fought battle on Court Suzanne Lenglen on Sunday.
Despite the challenges he faced – including a bloodied racket-holding hand and right elbow from a diving shot, being covered in French Open clay, and limited rest due to rain delays – Dimitrov remained focused and determined. “Better late than never,” he said after the match, expressing his joy at finally making it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in his 14th appearance at the Grand Slam event.
Dimitrov, who will face 2nd-seeded Jannik Sinner in the next round, acknowledged that the French Open had been the only major tournament where he struggled to make that “extra step.” Now, after over a decade and a half, the Bulgarian tennis legend has achieved his goal of reaching the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Sinner, the Australian Open champion, also advanced to the quarterfinals, albeit after a shaky start against unseeded Frenchman Courentin Moutet. The Italian rallied to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, demonstrating his ability to adapt and raise his level when faced with adversity.
The other men’s quarterfinal matchup on the bottom half of the draw will feature 3rd-seeded Carlos Alcaraz against 9th-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, both of whom secured their spots with impressive victories.
This resurgent season for Dimitrov, which includes a title at the Brisbane International and a runner-up finish at the Miami Open, has fueled his desire to finally capture that elusive Grand Slam title. As he puts it, “My quest and my goal is to be able to win a Slam. If I think about it, this is the only thing that is missing in my resume.”
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