In an electrifying start to the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, third-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria secured a hard-fought victory against China's Zhang Zhizhen with a score of 6-4, 7-5.
The match kicked off with Dimitrov facing the world No. 46 Zhang, who managed to break Dimitrov's serve early on. The tension heightened as Dimitrov responded by pushing Zhang to a break point in the sixth game, showcasing the intense competition between the two players.
Despite Zhang's resilience and his opportunity to level the match at 5-5, he couldn't capitalize, allowing Dimitrov to take the first set. The second set saw Zhang matching Dimitrov's pace, holding his serve in the first five games. However, Dimitrov's exceptional forehand proved decisive as he saved break points and regained control, ultimately winning the match.
Dimitrov reflected on his performance, highlighting the differing conditions from last week and his experience in high-pressure moments. \"The conditions from last week to today are so different. In the end, I just had to somehow find a way, but I have so much experience in moments like that,\" he remarked.
Looking ahead, Dimitrov is set to face Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic in the next round, continuing his pursuit of the Erste Bank Open title.
Reference(s):
Zhang Zhizhen falls short to Grigor Dimitrov at Erste Bank Open
cgtn.com
