Tennis News

Dimitrov on US Open retirement: 'It's a combination of everything'

Grigor Dimitrov’s quest to reach a fourth major semi-final and first since 2019 ended in disappointment on Tuesday at the US Open, where the former World No. 3 was forced to retire during his match against Frances Tiafoe in the fourth set.

The Bulgarian was trailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6, 1-4 when he walked to the net. After the match, Dimitrov shared the details of his retirement.

“I think it’s a combination of everything,” said Dimitrov, who won a gruelling three-hour, 39-minute five-set match in the previous round against Andrey Rublev. “Clearly my rehab process is a little bit slower than before. I mean, I felt a couple of things prior to the match. It’s the game. It’s just the game, and I need to keep my head up.

“As I said, I just need to reassess a little bit of certain things that I can change. Can maybe do a little bit better. Also physically to the way that I have been preparing. But again, given all the circumstances from Montreal up until now, I wasn’t really sure I’d be even able to do as well as I wanted to do. And again, that’s what I’m saying I take this quarter-final any time.”

Dimitrov suffered a third-round exit in Montreal and then lost in his opening match in Cincinnati. He bounced back in New York to reach his second major quarter-final of the season (Roland Garros).

However, physical issues have been a problem for Dimitrov in the latter stages of majors, with the 33-year-old also retiring in the first set during his fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon.

Dimitrov is determined to learn from his problems but reveals it is mentally testing.

“It doesn’t get easier, I tell you that much. But when you’ve done certain things a certain way throughout your career, I think a lot of moments outside of tennis really humble you in a very different way,” Dimitrov said. “That’s why when something like that comes around, for sure I take it and I hurt with it, you have to. I don’t want to just brush it off.

“I put it aside, but also I have a lot of exciting things ahead of me. I’m going to get home, and try to rest a little… heading to Asia to finish the year off. So you see, when you put it that way, of course you want to be here and fight for the trophy, but there’s always a brighter future in that sense.

“So will I hurt? Yeah for sure and it should. But I don’t want to just put it aside. I want to also reassess myself and everything that I’ve been going through, throughout these past three, four weeks and see the plus and the minuses. What can I improve, what I could have done better, what I need to do.”

Dimitrov leaves New York in contention to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time since he won the prestigious year-end event in 2017. The nine-time tour-level titlist is 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, 470 points behind eighth-placed Alex de Minaur, who in the final qualification spot will play Jack Draper in the US Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.

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Tiafoe on Roger Federer, Kevin Hart & US Open title belief

Frances Tiafoe’s belief has grown at this year’s US Open with every victory. The American moved past Grigor Dimitrov on Tuesday night to reach the semi-finals in New York for the second time.

With his latest triumph, Tiafoe has put himself firmly in contention of becoming the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick lifted the US Open in 2003. The 26-year-old revealed that only now has he allowed himself to dream of what could lie ahead in the next five days.

“I just came from the final in Cincinnati. I’m coming here feeling pretty good. It always helps going to a place where you’ve had great success. But to be honest with you, I wasn’t really thinking to make a semi or win the event,” Tiafoe said in his post-match press conference on Tuesday. “I just saw the draw and I was, like, man, I have got to play Ben [Shelton].

“I’m not as highly seeded like I was before, so I don’t know where I’m going to sit at. Playing Ben, that’s not something you’re going to look past, are you? Once I kind of got through that, the draw shakes up, and then you’re kind of, like, why not? Just day by day. Now my feet are in the semis.”

Tiafoe won a five-set thriller against Shelton in the third round before he eliminated Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Alexei Popyrin in the fourth round. The 26-year-old then produced a consistent display to overcome Dimitrov, who was forced to retire in the fourth set when Tiafoe was leading 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1.

Watching on in Arthur Ashe Stadium was Roger Federer. However, the 20-time major champion was not the only person that caught Tiafoe’s attention.

“That was pretty sick,” Tiafoe said when asked about Federer. “Obviously, I wasn’t thinking about it that much. [I was] more pumped about [actor] Kevin Hart instead of Roger, honestly! The past couple of years at Laver Cup you kind of get used to that, seeing him in the stands.

“But this dude was different. winning five years in a row. The way he looked in the suit is the same way he looked when he was playing. No sweat. You know, tees ironed perfect. What’s up with this dude, man? Hair perfect. It was just funny, man…What a guy. What a legend. So nice he’s enjoying his life. Doing his thing, just popping in wherever he kind of wants to and everyone embraces him. Unbelievable, wherever he goes. I mean, he’s such an icon. Ultimately it was pretty dope. But seeing Kevin Hart was sick.”

Tiafoe put on a show for Federer, actor Hart and the 23,000 fans inside Arthur Ashe and will hope to do the same on Friday when he faces countryman Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals.

The American, who is No. 16 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, revealed it has been a dream since they were teenagers for himself, Fritz and World No. 14 Tommy Paul to go deep at majors and compete for the biggest titles in the sport.

“I think we all been knocking on the door. Taylor’s been in and out of Top 10. Myself, I was Top 10 this time last year. Tommy is knocking on the door of quarters, playing great. Ben too. It’s only a matter of time,” Tiafoe said. “You put yourself in positions, it’s only a matter of matter of time and the game is open. It’s not like it once was where you make quarter-finals, you play Rafa, and you’re looking at flights.

“I mean, that’s just the reality. Now it’s just totally different and no one’s unbeatable. Especially later in the season when guys are maybe a little bit cooked. Maybe just not as fresh and they’re vulnerable. It’s pretty exciting. First time since ’09 [for an American Slam finalist]. Hopefully it’s me.”

Fritz & Tiafoe make American history at US Open

Fritz takes a 6-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into the clash but Tiafoe is not concerned about his record against the 12th seed.

“He’s a tough player. He plays great from both sides, has a great serve, he’s moving much better now. It’s going to be tough,” Tiafoe said when asked about Fritz, who is into his first major semi-final. “It’s going to be a big one for both of us, playing for a final. I don’t think those matches are anywhere near what this match would be, so it’s kind of tough to even go from that.”

Tiafoe, who lost in the semi-finals to Carlos Alcaraz in 2022, will be aiming to reach his first major final on Friday and third of the season.

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Preview: Sinner, Medvedev set for blockbuster US Open QF clash

Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev are the only major champions left at this year’s US Open. However, come Wednesday night just one will remain, with the pair set to meet in a blockbuster quarter-final clash in New York.

Their encounter at Flushing Meadows will be their third at a Grand Slam this year and if their previous matches are to go by, the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd and the fans watching globally will be in for a treat.

Back in January, Sinner rallied from two sets down to overcome Medvedev in a thrilling Australian Open final to clinch his first major. Sixth months later at Wimbledon, Medvedev gained revenge at the quarter-final stage, defeating the 23-year-old in five sets.

Medvedev takes a 7-5 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into Wednesday’s meeting and Sinner knows he will be pushed to his limit again.

“[It will be] a tough match. There is going to be a lot of rallies, so hopefully I’ll be ready physically. It’s going to be a physical match, also a mental match,” Sinner said. “I won in Australia, he then won in Wimbledon. That was five sets. So hopefully it’s going to be a good match. We’ll try to do our best on court, hopefully you guys enjoy the next one and then we’ll see how it goes.”

Match of the day 🎾@janniksin 🆚 @DaniilMedwed 💥

These two elevate their game when they face off, both averaging a #PerformanceRating above 9⃣ 📈

Check out how their #Insights stack up from previous meetings👇#TennisInsights | @atptour | @usopen pic.twitter.com/YxKqi51Pvo

— Tennis Insights (@tennis_insights) September 4, 2024

Sinner is on a nine-match winning streak, having captured his third ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati last month. The top seed swept past American Tommy Paul in the fourth round to reach the quarters in New York for the second time (l. to Alcaraz 2022) and has been impressive at majors all year, reaching at least the quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams. By doing so, he became just the eighth men’s singles player since 2000 to accomplish the feat.

Chasing a Tour-leading sixth title of the season and ninth semi-final, Sinner will be desperate to move past the fifth-seeded Medvedev, who is the second-highest seed left in the draw behind Sinner after Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev exited tournament.

Medvedev will be determined to pour cold water on Sinner’s red-hot form and comes into the meeting with greater experience at Flushing Meadows. The 28-year-old has enjoyed his best moments at the US Open, where he captured his first and only major in 2021 by beating Djokovic in straight sets. He then returned to the final last year but the Serbian Djokovic gained revenge.

Medvedev won his first six meetings against Sinner before the Italian made improvements to his serve and showed a willingness to close the net more to counter Medvedev’s deep return position and flip the script in their rivalry. The 28-year-old feels he is prepared for what is to come.

“I feel like in a way we know our game and what we will try to bring on the table,” Medvedev said when asked about facing Sinner. “Then it comes to always these moments like a deuce and break points, maybe [I’ll] try to surprise.

“Hopefully we can have a great match, I know that if I want to beat him I will need to be at my best, which I have managed to do a couple of times. It’s going to be a great match.”

Sinner vs. Medvedev Lexus ATP Head2Head

Medvedev arrived at the major off the back of opening-round exits in Montreal and Cincinnati and produced a patchy first-round performance against Dusan Lajovic in New York, where he eventually prevailed in four sets. However, the fifth seed has been dominant since, defeating Fabian Marozsan, Flavio Cobolli and Nuno Borges in straight sets to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open for the fifth time.

The former Nitto ATP Finals champion, who is currently fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, holds a standout 9-1 record in major quarter-finals, with his only defeat coming to Stefanos Tsitsipas at Roland Garros in 2021. Sinner is 3-5 at the same stage.

Sinner and Medvedev are both chasing their second major crowns and the winner will play 10th seed Alex de Minaur or 25th seed Jack Draper in the semi-finals. On the other side of the draw, Americans Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are set to face off on Friday in the last four, guaranteeing an American Slam finalist for the first time since Andy Roddick in 2009.

For now, Sinner and Medvedev will be focused on the match in front of them, which is second in the night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday from 7 p.m. EDT/ 1 a.m. CET Thursday.

De Minaur, Draper chase maiden major SF in New York
In Wednesday’s opening men’s singles quarter-final, Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper will each bid to break new ground when they face off in the second match of the day inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 10th-seeded De Minaur, who has won all three of his Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings with Draper, will aim to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam event for the first time in his fourth quarter-final at that level. The Australian arrived in New York having not competed on the singles court since Wimbledon in July due to a hip injury, but he has dropped just three sets in four matches en route to the last eight.

The No. 1 Briton in the PIF ATP Rankings, Draper will contest his maiden major quarter-final as the only man in the draw to reach the last eight without dropping a set. The 22-year-old, who lifted his maiden ATP Tour title in Stuttgart earlier this season, will hope his booming lefty serve can help him down De Minaur. Should he prevail, Draper will jump to a career-high No. 20 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

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How does Draper win his US Open quarter-final?

Jack Draper is set to play in his first Grand Slam quarter-final when he takes on Alex de Minaur at the US Open – but what does he need to do to win?

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Fritz & Tiafoe make American history at US Open

There will be an all-American men’s semi-final at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since the 2005 US Open.

Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe will meet in the last four at the US Open on Friday, guaranteeing that one of the home stars will become a first-time major finalist. The winner will become the first American man to make a Slam singles final since 2009 Wimbledon (Andy Roddick, l. to Federer).

All-American Grand Slam Men’s Singles SF or F (since 2000)

Fritz defeated fourth seed Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) in Tuesday’s first quarter-final before Tiafoe set a showdown against his countryman. He led Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 when the ninth seed retired.

The last time there was an all-American men’s semi-final at a major, 19 years ago at Flushing Meadows, Andre Agassi defeated Robby Ginepri 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

There have only been two other all-American men’s Slam semi-finals this millennium. Pete Sampras beat Agassi 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in the 2002 US Open final and Agassi clawed past Sampras 6-4, 3-6, 6-7(0), 7-6(5), 6-1 in the 2000 Australian Open semi-finals.

The winner between Fritz and Tiafoe will play in Sunday’s final in an attempt to become the first American man to win a major singles title since Andy Roddick lifted the 2003 US Open trophy.

Fritz leads Tiafoe 6-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. They most recently clashed last year in Acapulco, where Fritz was victorious 6-3, 6-4.

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GB's Skupski beaten in doubles quarter-final

Britain’s Neal Skupski and New Zealand partner Michael Venus are out of the US Open after a quarter-final loss to Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.

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Purcell & Thompson down top seeds at US Open, reach SFs

Can Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson turn their North American success into a maiden major team title at the US Open?

The Aussies, who this season have won three trophies together on North American soil, ousted top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6(4), 6-4 on Tuesday to reach the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows. Purcell and Thompson, seeded seventh, won 81 per cent of their first-serve points and fended off all five of the break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Up next for Purcell and Thompson will be the lone American team remaining, Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow. The 13th seeds are into their first major semi-final after overcoming 11th seeds Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-4.

“We kind of felt like we had the momentum the whole time, even in those battle games we had late in the second,” Withrow said. “Wes and Nikola, we know the guys very well. We played them in ‘s-Hertogenbosch earlier this year, it was six and six, close match. They’re not going to go away easily.”

Lammons and Withrow have claimed four team titles this season, including in Winston-Salem the week before the US Open.

Germans Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz also advanced to the last four with a 6-7(11), 6-4, 6-1 win against Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni. The 10th seeds will next face fourth seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic or eighth seeds Neal Skupski and Michael Venus.

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Fritz beats Zverev to end quarter-final heartache

Taylor Fritz ends his run of Grand Slam quarter-final disappointment by beating Alexander Zverev to reach the US Open semi-finals.

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Donald Young: A career of success & inspiration

Donald Young, the former No. 38 in the PIF ATP Rankings who reached two ATP Tour finals, is enjoying a dream run in the final tournament of his career, partnering longtime friend Taylor Townsend to the semi-finals of the US Open mixed doubles event. The lefties are two victories from major glory.

But win or lose, the 35-year-old Young will not be remembered just for his impressive accolades — winning 124 tour-level matches, including three against Top 10 opponents — and making waves in the sport by winning the Australian Open boys’ singles event aged 15 before debuting on the ATP Tour a month later. Young will be remembered for the impact he made on future generations.

The American played a critical part in several professionals’ careers, serving as a role model for the likes of Christopher Eubanks and Taylor Townsend. Before playing college tennis for Georgia Institute of Technology, Eubanks traveled as a hitting partner for Young.

“Donald’s career meant everything to me. He gave me the opportunity just to train with him every day, which was a privilege in itself. But not only that, he allowed me to see the world with him and see it from the perspective of a professional tennis player,” Eubanks said. “He allowed me to be there as a practice partner and learn the ins and outs on what it’s like to be on Tour. In so many ways, he instilled so much confidence that I could actually do it. And I think the biggest thing he did for me was simply just being there and being a big brother, being a tremendous resource to go to when I had various questions or even questions about my game. He instilled so much confidence into my abilities. And he would always tell me, ‘You’re good enough, you’re good enough. You can play out here too’.”

Coming from southwest Atlanta, there were not many role models who excelled on the pro tour for Eubanks after Jarmere Jenkins and Scoville Jenkins. Young and his parents relocating to Atlanta and running a tennis centre 10 minutes from Eubanks’ house proved critical.

“I always say I got extremely lucky that he and his family came into my life, because without them, without their generosity of allowing me to be able to travel and practise with them, I truly don’t believe that I would be here as a professional tennis player now,” Eubanks said. “So I owe him and his family everything because they gave me the idea and the confidence to say that, ‘Hey, you can be a professional tennis player and this is the way things are done, as a professional tennis player.”

<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2023/07/08/06/08/eubanks-young-hitting-partner.jpg?w=100%25&hash=01C9853089C4525E0C0D7BAEF5697A58″ style=”width:100%;” alt=”Christopher Eubanks travelled with former Top 50 player Donald Young as a hitting partner.” />
^{Photo: Donald Young}
Townsend and Young also reached the US Open mixed doubles semi-finals in 2014 and a decade later, they are within striking distance of the trophy.

“He’s retiring so he asked me to play,” Townsend told WTA Insider ahead of the tournament. “I was like, ‘You’re the reason I believed I could play any sort of pro tennis’, because he’s the closest I was around to it. It would be an honour for me to play with you and share the court for you on your retirement.”

For all the wins Young earned — including victories against Andy Murray in 2011 at Indian Wells, Gael Monfils later that year in Bangkok and Tomas Berdych in 2015 at the Canadian ATP Masters 1000 event — the impact on others sticks with him.

“It’s awesome. To have been a little or a big part of some people’s trajectory or upbringing or development is huge for me, because I would have loved to have that personal connection for me growing up,” Young said. “I just tried to do a lot of the things that I felt I didn’t get, so it could help someone else. Because going through it and learning it the first time, because for me and my parents and people around, it was the first time it was ever happening.

“To have the experience and then be able to pass it along so maybe someone can miss those roadblocks and bumps, it was pretty important for me. Personally, it was something I always wanted to do.”

Young will also be able to say that he was able to test his skills against some of the best players in history. He competed against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

“They were all playing at the same time, and to compete with them and be on the court is awesome. I talk to friends, and I tell them how it was. They ask me how it was, and I tell them, and it’s just when you’re in the moment and losing to them it’s not a great experience,” Young said, cracking a laugh. “But in hindsight and looking back, it’s pretty cool that you can say you did those things. I’m blessed to have played that long and played against them, because that means I was playing [at] a pretty decent level as well.”

When Young was growing up, his goal alongside his family was to earn a college scholarship and pay for his education through tennis. To surge well beyond that, enjoy success and inspire others has been “Awesome”.

“It just changed the trajectory of my life, my family’s life,” Young said. “And for that, I’m definitely indebted and grateful to tennis.”

What is his message to his fans as he nears the end of his career?

“Thanks for everything,” Young said. “And again, if you told the 12-year-old me that I would have done all these things, he would have been super excited and taken it any day of the week. He would have been very proud and excited.

“So I’m happy, because that’s the one that had all the dreams and wanted to do it. So if you’d have told that person that, he would have been happy and proud of it. I can definitely be proud of it here at 35, so it’s nice.”

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Navarro beats Badosa to reach first Slam semi-final

American Emma Navarro moves into the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career by beating Spain’s Paula Badosa in straight sets at the US Open.

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