Dimitrov Lends Helping Hand To Ballgirl
Have no fear, Grigor is here!
Grigor Dimitrov earned his biggest win of 2021 on Thursday when he beat Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) to reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open. But that was not the Bulgarian’s only victory of the day on court.
At 5-4 in the second set, Hurkacz hit a serve that stuck underneath the court’s back panel, and 15-year-old ballgirl Hannah Maarhuis was unable to retrieve it. But Dimitrov paused play to help the teen, who was working one of his matches for the first time. The Stadium 1 crowd roared in approval of the 30-year-old’s good deed as he pulled out the ball from underneath the panel.
“It was cool! I was embarrassed,” Maarhuis said, cracking a laugh. “It was stuck under the thing. He just said, ‘I can get it’!”
When you need a helping hand, @GrigorDimitrov is there ?#BNPPO21 | ? @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/afU9xNO11K
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) October 14, 2021
Dimitrov went on to win the second set and later the match, which marked his 100th ATP Masters 1000 win. He is into his first semi-final at this level since the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters.
The 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion will next play in-form Briton Cameron Norrie for a spot in the championship match in Indian Wells. One thing is certain: the ballkids for that match will know Grigor will be there to lend a helping hand if necessary!