Frances Tiafoe takes third consecutive third-round loss at majors

MATCH POINT: Dimitrov sends off Tiafoe in straights

Mystery surrounds a tennis match that resumes after a rain delay. On Saturday evening, shortly before 7:30, rain forced Grigor Dimitrov and Frances Tiafoe to vacate No. 2 Court early in the third set of their third-rounder. Dimitrov led by two sets at the time and was serving at 1-2, 30-love.

Dimitrov was playing superbly. So when the two returned, soon after 1:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, it was hard to imagine the underdog’s supremacy would seamlessly continue. After all, Tiafoe was the higher-ranked player, seeded 10th at Wimbledon. Just last month, the 25-year-old American had earned his first grass-court title and his second winner's trophy of the season. In contrast, Dimitrov, who turned 32 in May, had last won a tournament more than five years ago. Surely, overnight, the spell would wear off—at least partially.

But it was not to be. Smoothly picking up where he left off, Dimitrov won five games in a row, dropping just five points to earn a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 victory that in sum lasted a brisk 99 minutes.

Dimitrov’s glittering numbers: He won 37 of 40 points when he got his first serve in, 64 percent on his second serve, never faced a break point, struck 13 aces, was 12 of 15 at the net, hit 33 winners. His successful match point was textbook: a deep forehand approach shot, capped off by a backhand volley winner.

“Wonderful match, honestly,” said Dimitrov. “That's all I can say on that.”

But this wasn’t merely a case of a man who swung in all directions and fortunately connected. Impeccable as Dimitrov’s execution was, that success was the result of a well-informed strategy. Quite often, Dimitrov struck the ball deep and down the middle, denying Tiafoe the angles from where the American loves to break open rallies. Dimitrov also frequently sliced his backhand, keeping it low and varied enough to compromise Tiafoe’s contact point. As the match went on, Tiafoe grew increasingly unable to assert himself and frustrated at his inability to make inroads in any part of the court versus a seemingly impregnable opponent.

It was a master class in grass court tennis. You’d think Dimitrov had long generated great results at the All England Club. but this year’s Wimbledon marks only the third time Dimitrov has advanced to the fourth round. His most recent round-of-16 appearance came in 2017, Dimitrov beaten at that stage in straight sets by Roger Federer during the Swiss’ last Wimbledon title run. More notably, in 2014, Dimitrov beat defending champion Andy Murray in the quarters before losing to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in a tight four-setter, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (7).

Back then, in his early 20s, Dimitrov appeared to have the skills for more such deep runs at the majors. But they have been scarce; just two more Slam semis, at the 2017 Australian Open and 2019 US Open. In his previous four Wimbledon appearances, Dimitrov had won just a single match, twelve months ago eliminated in the first round by No. 93 Steve Johnson. But in a rare step for a top player, Dimitrov this June entered the qualifying event at Queen’s Club, the longstanding Wimbledon tune-up event played nearby in London. He won two matches in qualies and an additional two in the main draw before losing in the quarters to Carlos Alcaraz, 6-4, 6-4.

All that grass-court experience surfaced impressively today. Against Tiafoe, Dimitrov was alert and decisive, his movement sure-footed and commanding. Addressing the recent work he’s put in to his tennis, Dimitrov today said, “I think also my confidence is increasing every time I'm able to do that. Also, again on the grass, that surface is a little bit more specific to any other, and I just felt like I have done the good preparation, the good hours.”

In the next round, Dimitrov will once again play the wise veteran role when he meets sixth-seeded Holger Rune for the first time.

“Overall he seems like a pretty complete player with all the shots and all that,” said Dimitrov. “I haven't had like much time to really like study his game to that extent, Okay, this is his best, or anything like that.”

While Dimitrov’s third round victory was routine, Rune was pushed to the limit. Versus Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rune won a thriller, 10-8 in a fifth-set tiebreaker.

“It's a great matchup for me,” said Dimitrov. “I'm really looking forward to that. I just want to get out there and do my thing.”

If he does that as well as he did versus Tiafoe, Dimitrov versus Rune will sparkle with versatility and drama.