INDIAN WELLS: Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov's grand comeback continued at the BNP Paribas Open as he rallied from a set down to defeat Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in three sets to back up his stunning victory over top seed Daniil Medvedev in the previous round.
The Bulgarian fought back in a tight match to edge past the 24-year-old 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) and reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final of the season. With his victory, Dimitrov has now earned 100 Masters 1000 wins.
After dropping the first set in his quarter-final clash with Hurkacz, Dimitrov saved two break points at 3-3, 15/40 in the second set, before he levelled via a net cord on set point, raising his arms in the air following an epic point between the pair. The World No. 28 then squandered a 5-2 lead in the decider, but regained his focus, eventually advancing after two hours and 40 minutes. The 23rd seed now leads Hurkacz 1-0 in their ATP Head2Head series, according to a report on ATP's official website.
"I stayed in it," Dimitrov said in his on-court interview. "Especially after that first set, it was very hard for me to find my range today. I was a little bit tired from yesterday an' didn't feel I really had enough time to rest and push, but I still felt and I knew I had something in me. I knew that I had to step up and be a little bit more aggressive.
"I started reading his serve a little bit more and I had a few more looks. I kept trying and believing and I think that made the difference."
Just 24 hours earlier, Dimitrov had battled back from a set and a double-break down against Medvedev in the fourth round to capture his first win over a top-two opponent since he defeated Andy Murray in Miami in 2016.
The 30-year-old will next face Cameron Norrie after the Brit boosted his hopes to qualify for the ATP Finals by sweeping aside Diego Schwartzman 6-0, 6-2 to reach his maiden Masters 1000 semi-final. IANS