Grigor Dimitrov showcased his resilience as he defeated Arthur Rinderknech 6-2 4-6 7-6 to reach the quarterfinals of the ATP Paris Masters. This win is significant for the 33-year-old as he seeks his second title of the season following his success at the Brisbane International. With a season record of 48-17, he also aims for his second consecutive final appearance at the Paris Masters.
Dimitrov is currently in the running to qualify for the ATP Finals, with 3,340 points after this match. A victory in the Paris Masters final would elevate him to 4140 points, allowing him to move past the ATP Finals qualification cut of 4100 points. With key players like Novak Djokovic not playing this tournament and Andrey Rublev out of the tournament, the Haskovo native has a valuable opportunity to earn points and contend for the title.
Dimitrov is currently sitting at 10th on the Race table, defending 600 points from his Paris Masters final last year. Defending all those points would bring him to 8th. Considering Djokovic has implied that he doesn’t have the intention to play the ATP Finals this year, the Bulgarian may not even need to sit in the Top 8 spots this season. Djokovic is currently 6th in the race table with 3910 points.
Dimitrov will next face Karen Khachanov, against whom he holds a 4-0 record, including a 1-0 advantage on outdoor hard courts and a 3-0 lead on indoor hard courts. This match will be a critical test for the 2017 ATP Finals champion as he looks to maintain his unbeaten streak against Khachanov and keep his ATP Finals hopes alive.
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
