Kei Nishikori has reached the round of 16 at the French Open in Paris. Grigor Dimitrov has to pack his bags early and is eliminated in three sets.
For Grigor Dimitrov, the big showdown in Paris doesn’t seem to be doing Grigor Dimitrov any good. Again the Bulgarian has to say goodbye to the French Open early and simply can’t find his game in Paris.
In 2014, 2015 and 2016, the world’s current number five was hit by hailstorms. Last year Dimitrov finished in the third round at Stade Roland Garros.
This year again, the 27-year-old should not go any further. Fernando Verdasco was clearly inferior to the Bulgarian and never found the right means against the Spaniard’s powerful game on the other side.
After less than two and a half hours of play, Verdasco won 7:6 (4), 6:2 and 6:4 and made another sobering trip to Paris for Dimitrov.
Unlike the Bulgarian, Kei Nishikori played his third round match against Gilles Simon and did justice to his role as favourite.
Against the local hero Nishikori had everything under control and played his whole class. With great footwork and fast basic strokes Nishikori didn’t let his opponent get into the rhythm and forced Gilles Simon to stop playing.
With a smooth 6:3, 6:1 and 6:3 the Japanese player is safe in the round of 16 of the French Open.