Dimitrov Into Sydney QF

Grigor Dimitrov continued his strong start to the 2016 season on Wednesday at the Apia International Sydney, out-hitting Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 7-6(2), 6-4 to advance to his second quarter-final in as many weeks.

Dimitrov, 24, had won their first meeting on hard courts at the ATP Masters 1000 Paris in 2014, while Cuevas prevailed last year on clay in the Istanbul semi-finals.

The opening match in Ken Rosewall Arena saw the No. 4-seeded Bulgarian take the 51-minute first set in a one-sided tie-break, denying the 41^st-ranked Cuevas the lone break point of the stanza. Dimitrov opened the second set with his only break of the match (1 for 9). It turned out to be the only one he would need in the one-hour, 37-minute victory.

Dimitrov reached the quarter-finals in Brisbane last week, losing to Roger Federer in three sets.

The 30-year-old Cuevas, who was making his third appearance in Sydney, failed to convert any of his three break-point opportunities.

Gilles Muller was leading No. 2 seed Dominic Thiem 7-6(2), 2-2 when the 22-year-old Austrian, who was coming off a semi-final showing in Brisbane (l. to Federer), retired with blisters on his right foot. Muller, a semi-finalist in 2015, has now dropped just seven points on his first serve over two matches, taking out a pair of hot young guns in Thiem and  Borna Coric. Muller, who also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open last year, could push past his career-high of No. 34 in the Emirates ATP Rankings if he goes on to win the Sydney title.

French qualifier Nicolas Mahut was a three-set 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 winner over No. 5 seed Andreas Seppi of Italy. Joining Mahut in the winners’ circle were Teymuraz Gabashvili (d. Federico Delbonis 6-3, 6-3), No. 8 seed Alexandr Dologopolov (d. Alexander Sarkissian 7-6(6), 6-2) and No. 6 seed Jeremy Chardy (d. James Duckworth 7-6(5), 6-4).