Jannik Sinner defeated Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-final in Paris
Jannik Sinner will become world no. 1 on Monday following Novak Djokovic’s Roland Garros withdrawal. The Italian was in a great position to pass the Serb and conquer the ATP throne, and he will achieve that regardless of his Roland Garros run.
Sinner is through to his first semi-final in Paris following a rock-solid 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 triumph over Grigor Dimitrov in two hours and 29 minutes. The Italian notched his third Major semi-final and extended his perfect streak on the most notable scene in 2024, winning all 12 matches.
Grigor played in his first Roland Garros quarter-final and fought well in sets two and three after a slow start. The Bulgarian pulled a late break in the third set to extend his run before falling in the tie break, propelling world no.
2 into the semi-final against Carlos Alcaraz or Stefanos Tsitsipas. Jannik outplayed Grigor behind the first and second serve, producing reliable numbers and controlling the pace. Dimitrov created only two break chances and converted one.
Jannik Sinner will become world no. 1 after Roland Garros.
On the other hand, he played against ten break points and suffered four breaks, two in the opening set.
Sinner tamed his strokes nicely and landed 29 winners and 20 unforced errors. Dimitrov added 33 direct points and sprayed 49 mistakes, too many against such a strong rival. Jannik built a massive advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes.
He overpowered Grigor in the mid-range and most extended ones, earning the victory fair and square. The Italian made a reliable start and clinched a break in the third game of the encounter after the Bulgarian’s loose backhand.
Grigor struggled behind the initial shot again in the fifth game, netting a routine forehand on the fourth break point and sending Jannik 4-1 in front. The Italian held at love in game six and wrapped up the opener with a service winner at 5-2, sealing the set in 35 minutes and gaining a boost.
With nothing working his way, Dimitrov suffered another break at the beginning of the second set after Sinner’s forehand return winner.
World no. 2 cemented the lead in game two following another basic mistake from his rival and closed the fourth game with an ace after a deuce for 3-1. The Bulgarian erased a break point in the seventh game with a well-constructed attack and a forehand winner, remaining within one break deficit.
Still, the Italian held at love in game eight and concluded the set with an unreturned serve at 5-4, forging a 6-2, 6-4 advantage after an hour and 21 minutes. Both players saved a break point at the beginning of the third set, and they served well in the upcoming ones, staying neck and neck until 4-4.
Dimitrov cracked under pressure in the ninth game, spraying a forehand error and falling behind. Sinner served for the win in game ten and embraced his only loose service game, allowing his rival to pull the break back with a forehand down the line winner.
They completed the final two games after deuces and introduced a tie break. Jannik landed a backhand down the line winner in the fifth point for a mini-break and won two points on serve for a 5-2 lead. World no. 2 earned another mini-break in the ninth point, creating three match points and seizing the first after Grigor’s slice error, celebrating a place in the semi-final.