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Statement victories don't come any bigger than the one that Grigor Dimitrov achieved at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. With a come-from-behind win over No.1 seed Carlos Alcaraz, the Bulgarian claimed the biggest win of his season to reach the quarterfinals.
It was not only Dimitrov's first win over the Spaniard in four matches, but the first time he'd even taken a set.
"Given all the circumstances throughout the year and how everything has unfolded for me at certain tournaments, I definitely rate this win up there," said Dimitrov after the 5-7 6-2 6-4 win.
At age 32, Dimitrov was the oldest man remaining in the Shanghai draw and as he produced some vintage shot-making and athleticism at Qi Zhong Stadium, he also made his experience count.
The Bulgarian held an early edge over Alcaraz, with a break of serve providing a 3-2 advantage that he quickly extended to 5-3. When the No.1 seed won four straight games to steal the opener, Dimitrov held his nerve.
He dominated the second set from start to finish, claiming breaks in the first and seventh games before calmly serving it out. Dimitrov converted on his first break point opportunity in the deciding set, going on to complete the defining victory in two hours and 10 minutes.
"You know, tennis is a very tough sport, but also at the same time you need to be quite intelligent to know what to do at the right time," said Dimitrov, who finished with 29 winners against 12 unforced errors.
"I feel like I have enough tools in my bag to really, you know, pick them when I really need them," he said. "I think today, on quite a few moments throughout the match, I had the answer for it."
Securing a 17th ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal appearance, Dimitrov is now preparing to meet Nicolas Jarry.
The 22nd-seeded Jarry had earlier enjoyed the perfect 28th birthday as he defeated Schwartzman to reach a maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal. It was only his second win over the Argentine in the six matches they've played.
"I'm very happy to be able to be in the quarterfinals. It's a good accomplishment," said the Chilean, after completing his 6-3 5-7 6-3 victory in two hours and 23 minutes. "I've been having a couple (of big performances) this year, so I'm very happy, very grateful, trying to enjoy, trying to improve a lot."
Jarry needed his best tennis to edge past world No.131 Schwartzman, who has enjoyed a resurgence at this event. After a win over No.7 seed Taylor Fritz on Tuesday, the 31-year-old had opportunities for another one as he levelled after the first set.
But helped by 44 winners, compared to 17 from Schwartzman, Jarry held steady in the deciding set. "Today was a tough, tough match mentally, but I was able to come back very strong in the third. I gave my best, and happy to be able to break and get the win," said the No.22 seed.
Andrey Rublev, at No.5, is the highest seed remaining in Shanghai after a gritty 7-5 7-5 win over Tommy Paul.
The Russian recovered from a first-service break to take the first set, with a lone service break late in the second helping him to complete his victory in one hour and 35 minutes.
Recording 27 winners against only four unforced errors, Rublev related that consistency, and a calm approach were a key to his success. "(I didn't) get frustrated, especially when he broke me in the first set, (I was) able to stay focused and to keep the same level because I was playing really well," he said.
As he prepares to face Ugo Humbert in the quarterfinals, Rublev understands his status as the highest seed remaining is no guarantee of success. "They deserve to be where they are this week because they played really well," he said of his fellow quarterfinalists.
Humbert booked his place in a second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal in lightning-fast style, surrendering only three games as he progressed past J.J Wolf in under an hour. It followed his earlier upset of No.4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
"I'm very proud. I played three good matches here and, yeah, for sure it's a great feeling to be back in the quarters of a Masters 1000," the 32nd-seeded Frenchman said; he reached the same stage of the Paris Masters in 2020. "I'm super happy,"
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