Sensational Dimitrov takes down Djokovic

Grigor Dimitrov celebrates after winning his match against Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Masters at Caja Magica in Madrid on May 7, 2013. Dimitrov won 7-6, 6-7, 6-3. (Getty Images)

Madrid came alive to the strains of a dramatic ensemble from a determined Bulgarian and a stoic Serbian on Tuesday night. The two of them turned the Manolo Santana court inside the Caja Magica into a theatre, as they played out a three hour thriller. There were twists and turns; some of the bends coming without warning. There was trauma and drama as Grigor Dimitrov and Novak Djokovic enthralled the eager crowd with some painfully brilliant tennis. Cramps for the Bulgarian and the sprained ankle of Djokovic added to the intensity inside the theatre. The Serbian even seemed offended by the rousing cheer that accompanied each for his opponent’s points. In the end, neither Djokovic’s indignation nor Dimitrov’s cramps in the second set could prevent the man, who many believe has the key to grand destiny, from causing a sensational upset. Dimitrov earned the biggest win of his nascent career, with a hard fought 7-6 (6), 6-7 (8), 6-3 victory to reach the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open.

At 3-2 in the first set, it was Djokovic that made the first move. A brilliant forehand down the line winner forced Dimitrov to deuce. But the Bulgarian pulled out an ace from his bag to stay even with the world No.1. Just when it appeared like the Serbian was ready to push forward, he made three straight errors to fall to 0-40 in the seventh game. The smell of danger aroused the fighter in Djokovic as he clawed back and staved off three deuces before eventually taking a 4-3 lead.

Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Dimitrov sank a backhand in the net to offer a set point to Djokovic. The Bulgarian stubbed out the opportunity immediately, with his favourite stroke – a backhand down the line winner that was beyond the reach of Djokovic. The kid was hanging tight and it was Djokovic who blinked first. At 30-30 in the eleventh game, the Serbian made a couple of unforced errors to allow the 21-year-old to serve out the first set.

Playing with renewed urgency, Djokovic struck a forehand cross court winner to earn break point in the twelfth game. The set trailed away into a tie-breaker when a backhand from Dimitrov failed to sail past the net on the next point. The world No. 1 appeared to be on course, when he rode an early mini-break to take a 4-1 lead.

Djokovic receives treatment to his right ankle in his match against Dimitrov during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open at the Caja Magica on May 7, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Getty Images)

Surprisingly, Djokovic lay to waste a couple of set points at 6-4 and the crowd rallied behind the determined upstart. A scathing forehand down the line winner brought up set point for Dimitrov at 7-6. He made it four in a row, when Djokovic failed to return a kick serve on the next point to bag the set against all odds. The set lasted an hour and five minutes.

It was all too clear that Djokovic had more than a match on his hands. The situation turned grim for the world No.1 when he twice dumped his forehand in the net to fall behind 2-4 in the second set. The ankle flared up too, to compound his deepening misery. But then you would not be the leading player, if you did not know how to respond.

Djokovic took advantage of a double fault from Dimitrov and layered it with a brilliant forehand cross-court winner to earn three break points at 0-40. Even though the 21-year-old fought back to deuce, a forehand volley sealed the break back. The second set was back on serve. With the ankle taped and danger averted, Djokovic stamped his authority in the twelfth game when he held to love to force a second tie-break.

It was Djokovic again who took the mini-break straight away. The Serbian built on a 3-0 start to retain a three point gap at 5-2, catching the line with a backhand winner. Yet again Dimitrov showed remarkable resilience as he clawed his way back to even terms by winning three points on the trot. After saving a set point at 6-5, Dimitrov drew out an ace to earn his first match point. But Djokovic responded with a high kick serve that allowed him to move into the net and force the error. It took two more set points, before Djokovic eventually forced the match into a decisive third set.

Unfortunately for the Serbian, he failed to ride the swing in momentum. The world No.1 made four unseemly errors in the very first game of the third set to surrender the break. When Dimitrov staved off immediate pressure to consolidate the break despite being forced to deuce, it was finally beginning to dawn on the Madrileños that the young Bulgarian was in mood to vacate the court.

At 15-30 in the ninth game, Djokovic was serving to stay in this engaging contest. The moment of reckoning came sooner than expected. The Serbian drowned a forehand in net to offer two match points to the Bulgarian. Another forehand error from Djokovic sealed the defeat. It was a mighty upset by Dimitrov, who is finally beginning to grow into the shoes that have been kept warm just for the young man.

“It’s a great win for me. Good day at the office. I know it’s a big thing, of course. But you got to stay on the ground. Hopefully you’re going to face these guys for years,” said the poised Bulgarian. “You never know how it’s going to be next time. You got to be ready and try to work at it every day and see it as just another test to do and something exciting to look forward.”

It remains to be seen if Dimitrov can indeed live upto those mature words and add substance to the upset by staying on in Madrid through the weekend. For now though, we should all enjoy the transition of Dimitrov from prodigious talent into a promising professional.