Dimitrov lost one point on serve in his opening 3 service games. Dan saved 2 bps in his opening service game, then a couple of holds to 30.

Slightly careless play from GD, 3 forehand errors present Dan with a bp but his passing shot from deep behind the baseline can't make it over the net. GD fierce f pass A- DE super b pass winner crosscourt 40-40, GD b error net after rally 40-A Dan slices a backhand return off a 2nd, ball lands short but stays low, GD forehand fails to make it over the net, for the break *4-3

Ace, GD b error net after rally 30-0, DE serve + volley, GD difficult pass miles out 40-0, unret 1st 5-3*

GD f cc ue wide 0-15, GD f ue long after 1st 0-30, GD f error long 0-40 GD f error long after 1st, for the set 6-3

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Not sure Dan did anything special to change the momentum in the set. Dimitrov's forehand kept missing. Both players adopting slice backhands the vast majority of the time and blocking back serves. 

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unret 2nd 15-0, after losing 12 points in a row GD finally lands a f winner 15-15, DE poor f error long after rally 15-30, long rally - eventually GD drop shot then f pass winner 15-40, agg f dtl from DE 30-40, super f pass crosscourt from DE that GD can't deal with 40-40, DE serve + volley winner after 2nd A-, GD f pass wide under pressure 1-0*

DE f ue wide 15-0, super defence from Dan, survived GD's smash from deep then subtle b pass that GD couldn't finesse over the net 15-15 GD responds to DE's topspin b with his own slightly superior that forces an error from DE, GD smash for a comfortable hold 1-1

Dan holds to 15, relatively dull game 2-1*

GD agg f 15-0, df 15-15, ace T 30-15, another short return that stayed low - GD b into the net 30-30 GD v winner 40-30 high defensive lob from Dan lands deep to extend the rally, GD f error long 40-40 GD unimpressive topspin b into the net 40-A, brilliant topspin b winner crosscourt from GD after 2nd 40-40, Dan dumps 2nd serve return in the net A-, unret 1st out-wide 2-2

2 GD b errors long 30-0, GD attacks the net but DE super footwork to create space for f pass winner 40-0, sublime drop shot winner from GD 40-15, GD f error long 3-2*

df 0-15, GD goes for big f after 1st but misses long 0-30, DE tries to attack 2nd but misses long 15-30, another 2nd serve this time DE b slice return has no penetration, easy f winner for GD 30-30, GD smash winner 40-30, GD super topspin b winner dtl 3-3

Dan unwisely runs around his b to hit a f but only creates a huge space for GD to hit f winner 0-15, agg f crosscourt from DE 15-15, unret 1st 30-15, GD b slice into net 40-15, DE v winner after good play 4-3*

Unret 1st 15-0, huge f winner cc from GD 30-0, GD slice b error long 30-15, big 1st unret 40-15, GD smash 4-4

GD f pass 0-15, long rally ends with agg f from DE 15-15, unret 1st 30-15, GD dominates 30-30, long rally ends with careless slice b error long from GD 40-30, unret 1st 5-4*

physio is on to treat Dan's knee during the changeover. 

Unret 1st 15-0, GD big b after 2nd 30-0, big T 1st 40-0, strange b error wide after 2nd 40-15, DE pulls f pass wide 5-5

Shocking smash into the net from GD 15-0, DE gets away with a not convincing bounce smash as GD nets a difficult b 30-0, unret 1st 40-0, emphatic f drive volley winner from GD after good play 40-15,  GD poor slice b into net 6-5*

GD super f winner dtl after DE kept getting smashes back 15-0, GD agg f 30-0, GD agg topspin b 40-0, GD f dtl just wide 40-15, DE f ue net 6-6

GD rubbish slice b error net 1-0*, GD f winner after 1st 1-1 GD poor f error wide after 1st *2-1, big 1st out wide *3-1, brilliant f pass winner from GD 3-2*, GD agg f after 2nd 3-3, GD wild f error long after 1st *4-3, GD b pass lands wide *5-3, DE attempts serve + volley but difficult low volley lands long 5-4*, delightful drop shot winner from Dan after long rally 6-4*, DE volley winner to finish 7-4

I've just watched on replay, great match!  I had checked the odds on Bet365, Dan was evens which I felt was good value. I decided not to place a wager as I didn't want to curse his chances. A key stat in the match is that Dan saved all 4 BPs he faced.

He has now won 6 sets in succession, when is the last time that happened?!  I think many observers will reckon he is ffavourite for today's final against Griekspoor.   The ATP live ranking states that he has equalled his career high of 22 If he wins this afternoon, he will only go up one additional place in the rankings, if he loses he will be overtaken by Talon G  and start next week as world no. 23.  To break the top 20, he is going to need another couple of good tournaments.  I think he will do it!

The final starts it 5pm local.

stevemcqueen wrote:

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I've just watched on replay, great match!  I had checked the odds on Bet365, Dan was evens which I felt was good value. I decided not to place a wager as I didn't want to curse his chances. A key stat in the match is that Dan saved all 4 BPs he faced.

He has now won 6 sets in succession, when is the last time that happened?!  I think many observers will reckon he is ffavourite for today's final against Griekspoor.   The ATP live ranking states that he has equalled his career high of 22 If he wins this afternoon, he will only go up one additional place in the rankings, if he loses he will be overtaken by Talon G  and start next week as world no. 23.  To break the top 20, he is going to need another couple of good tournaments.  I think he will do it!

The final starts it 5pm local.

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 He is going to need a lot to break the top 20 as he loses a lot of points the week after next. In fact if he doesn't reach the third round next week, he could drop out of the top 32.