Grigor Dimitrov’s, aka Baby Fed, steps are turning into big ones. The 22 year old 22nd ranked Bulgarian won his first ATP 500 title on the hard courts of Acapulco. For Dimitrov the last few months have seen one career milestone after another. At the end of last season, he won his first ATP 250 tournament in Stockholm, beating then 3rd ranked David Ferrer in the final. Dimitrov then followed this up by making his first Major quarter-final at the Australian Open. There he came within a few forehands of taking a two sets to one lead against Rafael Nadal.
Dimitrov’s week in Acapulco was as hard fought as they come. In the last sixteen, he avenged his defeat to Ernst Gulbis in the Rotterdam quarter-finals, winning 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5. Then in the semis, he fought past a resilient if rusty Andy Murray 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3). That win was particularly impressive considering Murray’s ability to get so many balls back. Though Murray got the better of Dimitrov for much of the match, Grigor kept his cool in the tiebreaks and stepped inside the court to take control of points and win rallies rather than lose them. It was Dimitrov’s first win over Murray, another milestone, and his fifth over a top ten player.
In the final, Dimitrov faced Kevin Anderson, ranked one place higher than him, and the recent Delray Beach finalist. The South African seemed to have the better of Dimitrov in the early stages of the match, putting pressure on his serve in the first set, but Dimitrov took control of the tiebreaker to win it 7-1 and lead by a set. Anderson broke early in the second set, taking it 6-3, a set in which he did not face a single break point. Anderson then broke early in the third, and with his serve looking strong, Anderson looked set to atone for his third set tiebreaker loss to Cilic in the previous week’s Delray Beach final. But Dimitrov improved his play, broke back and took the match to a breaker. There, he trailed Anderson again by a mini-break. Bur once again he showed his ever improving mental toughness to level the score at 5-5 at which point he earned his own mini-break and then took the match on his service, an aggressive serve out wide and a huge forehand off the short ball forcing an Anderson error and winning him the match 7-6 (1), 3-6, 7-5 (5).
The victory takes Dimitrov to a world ranking of 16, which if he can maintain will make his progression through Grand Slam draws significantly easier. Next up for the Bulgarian is the ATP 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. Considering his recent fine form on hard courts and ability to build on his achievements, it is not unreasonable to expect Baby Fed to keep on taking big steps up into the elite and out of Federer’s shadow.
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