Andrey Rublev Tops Grigor Dimitrov In Quarter-finals For 13th Straight Win | ATP Tour

On the heels of back-to-back ATP Tour titles in Marseille and Dubai, Andrey Rublev continued his stellar kind to succeed in the Indian Wells semi-finals for the primary time.

He by no means trailed in a 7-5, 6-2 win over thirty third seed Grigor Dimitrov on Friday on the BNP Paribas Open, incomes his thirteenth straight victory in a battle of former junior World No. 1s. Ought to Rublev go on to win the title in Indian Wells, he’ll tie his career-long profitable streak of 15.

Rublev dropped simply seven factors on first serve within the contest, profitable 81 per cent (29/36) of these factors and dropping serve simply as soon as within the match. That break got here at an important second, with Dimitrov utilizing a sweetly struck backhand cross to assist forestall the fourth seed from serving out the opening set.

However Rublev answered with a direct break again and located a better gear to overwhelm the Bulgarian the remainder of the way in which. His highly effective baseline sport proved an excessive amount of for Dimitrov, who was powerless to cease the relentless assault.

After sealing the opening set with an ace — considered one of 4 within the match — Rublev raced to a 5-1 lead in set two behind a decisive run through which he received seven of eight video games.

As he did within the opening set, Dimitrov fought admirably along with his again towards the wall, saving a match level to carry for 5-2 in a four-deuce sport — the longest of the 90-minute contest. He then introduced up a break level within the match’s closing sport earlier than Rublev closed the door.

Each males entered the quarter-final match with out dropping a set within the match, and Rublev made it eight on the trot by overwhelming the Bulgarian to succeed in his fourth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final up to now 12 months.

After knocking off one 2021 Indian Wells semi-finalist, he may face one other in twentieth seed Taylor Fritz within the subsequent spherical. The American takes on Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic subsequent on Stadium 1.