Dimitrov stuns Federer in five sets at US Open

Grigor Dimitrov came from two sets to one down to shock the five-time champion Roger Federer 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in three hours and 12 minutes, advancing to his first semi-final in Flushing Meadows. The 28-year-old had never beaten the third seed in seven previous ATP Head to Head meetings, winning just two of 18 sets in those matchups.

There will be a first-time major finalist on the top half of the draw, as Dimitrov will play in-form fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the last four. They have split two previous matches, both of which came in 2017.

Dimitrov took advantage of a night on which Federer never found his top level, maintaining his ground on the baseline and using great variety to keep the 20-time major winner from getting into a groove.

"After the second set I felt I was getting a good strike on my shots," Dimitrov said on the court. "My main goal was to stay on the court as long as possible. At the end for sure he was not 100 per cent. It's best of five sets and anything can happen."

Federer, the oldest major quarter-finalist since a 39-year-old Jimmy Connors made the semi-finals of the 1991 US Open, made 61 unforced errors to only 41 for Dimitrov. The Swiss converted only four of the 14 break points he earned.

"I thought he was tough off the baseline. He mixed up well, which gave me all sorts of problems with the rhythm. Could never really feel comfortable off the baseline," Federer said. "That's something in the past I've always been able to dominate, I'd say. That was not the case tonight. He did a good job there."

In the end, Dimitrov simply played the cleaner match. Although he double faulted to get broken multiple times, the Monaco resident remained calm in rallies, with Federer ultimately making 21 more unforced errors than he struck winners.

"Just disappointed it's over because I did feel like I was actually playing really well after a couple of rocky starts. It's just a missed opportunity to some extent that you're in the lead, you can get through, you have two days off after. It was looking good," Federer said. "But got to take the losses. They're part of the game. Looking forward to family time and all that stuff, so. Life's all right."

At the beginning of the match, it was tough to forecast an upset. The 38-year-old Swiss seemingly set the tone by breaking in his first return game en route to a 3-0 lead. Federer dropped just nine games total in his previous two matches before facing Dimitrov, so it looked like much of the same.

But Dimitrov, a first-time US Open quarter-finalist, made his key breakthrough when he broke for 4-2 in the second set. Even though he could not serve out the set at 5-3, returning the break of serve with a double fault into the net, Dimitrov showed that he was very much in the match, and on his first set point Federer mishit a cross-court forehand well wide.

Federer broke twice in the third set to capture the momentum. But like in the second set, he was unable to get off to a quick start in the fourth, and that proved costly. After Dimitrov forced a decider, Federer left the court for a medical timeout as the Bulgarian did push-ups on his bench to stay warm.

"I just needed some treatment on my upper - what is it - back, neck," Federer said. "Just needed to try to loosen it up, crack it and see if it was going to be better."

Dimitrov raced to a double break and 4-0 lead in the fifth set as Federer continued to make unforced errors, struggling to find energy. And finally, after holding to love, Dimitrov put his hands on his head and let out a massive roar after securing the win.

Looking forward, Federer said he plans to play Laver Cup and compete in "Shanghai, Basel, maybe Paris, London."

"I think still it's been a positive season. Disappointing now, but I'll get back up, I'll be all right."

Date: 4 September 2019, Source: ATP