In a nail-biting Halloween match at the Paris Masters, Grigor Dimitrov fought his way to a hard-fought victory against Arthur Rinderknech, keeping his ATP Finals dreams alive. The eighth seed rallied to win 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5) in a match that saw him save his best for last, clinching the final four points after being down in the tiebreak.
Dimitrov, who had a rocky start, quickly regained his composure after losing the second set. With Rinderknech serving strongly and leading 5-3 in the deciding tiebreak, it looked like the French wildcard might pull off an upset. However, Dimitrov dug deep, showcasing his trademark shot-making to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
“I can’t believe how it turned around,” Dimitrov said after the match. “It was an incredible atmosphere, and I’m just proud of how I fought.”
The match was marked by impressive serving on both sides. Rinderknech fired 13 aces, while Dimitrov was even more dominant with 17 aces and an impressive win rate on his first serve. The crowd was electric, especially after Ugo Humbert’s earlier upset of Carlos Alcaraz, and they rallied behind Rinderknech in a bid to see the local favorite triumph.
With this victory, Dimitrov advances to the quarter-finals, where he’ll face Karen Khachanov. He currently sits at No. 10 in the Race to Turin and can significantly improve his standing by winning the tournament. “I know I need to reach the final to have a shot at qualifying, but I’m focused on one match at a time,” he added.
Dimitrov’s win also marks his 20th appearance in a Masters 1000 quarter-final, highlighting his consistent performance on the tour. As he continues to battle younger opponents, this victory provides a much-needed boost to his confidence.
“I’m still fighting against the best players in the world, and that makes me happy,” he reflected. With only one week left in the season, Dimitrov remains a contender, and he’ll need to channel this momentum to secure his spot in Turin.
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