Dimitrov wins Chengdu opener over Evans in first match since US Open

At the US Open, Grigor Dimitrov ultimately salvaged his 2019 season by reestablishing himself on the major stage. The former world No. 3, who earlier in the summer hard-court swing lost to a player ranked outside the Top 400, defeated Roger Federer for the first time in eight attempts to reach the semifinals—a run that catapulted the Bulgarian more than 50 spots for a return inside the Top 30.

On Thursday in Chengdu, Dimitrov took the court for the first time since seeing his Flushing Meadows run ended by a red-hot Daniil Medvedev, and didn’t disappoint. In a contest that was full of quality tennis, particularly in the opening set, the fourth seed topped Dan Evans, 7-5, 7-5, to advance.

Dimitrov's lone hiccup came when he served for the match at 5-3 in the second set; he hit two loose unforced errors to drop serve but recovered to break Evans on his second match point when his opponent yanked a forehand wide. The 28-year-old improved to 2-1 against the Brit after winning the pair’s first meeting in more than three years, when Evans prevailed in the second round of Washington D.C.

Currently ranked No. 26, Dimitrov is aiming to win his first title since lifting the biggest trophy of his career at the 2017 ATP Finals in London. In the quarterfinals, Dimitrov will mee Alexander Bublik after the Kazakh beat Jordan Thompson, 6-4, 7-5.

Second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime wasn't as fortunate. The 19-year-old Canadian was sent packing by Portugal's Joao Sousa, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-4.

In an impressive effort, Sousa did not face a break point, while also withstanding 23 aces from the Canadian. The 30-year-old, coming off a semifinal run in St. Petersburg that included a victory over world No. 9 Karen Khachanov, took the first-time meeting in two hours and 15 minutes.

Auger-Aliassime has lost his past four matches, dating back to a third-round defeat against Khachanov in Montreal.