The Summer of Tennis in Australia has come to an end. As the Australian Open is all wrapped up, players now travel the world to play tournaments. However, World No. 25 Grigor Dimitrov would have to wait longer.
Dimitrov had suffered from a shock second-round exit in the Australian Open. Thus, he must have been looking to redeem himself in the Dallas Open, which starts February 7 in Texas.
Sadly for him, the Bulgarian former World No. 3 will have to wait a little longer owing to bad news.
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Grigor Dimitrov pulls out of Dallas
Grigor Dimitrov, who had been the 26th seed in the Australian Open 2022, did not have a deep run in the Australian Open 2022. In fact, he only lasted till the second round.
France’s Benoit Paire knocked him out in the second round itself. Hence, with an early Australian Open exit, Dimitrov had been looking to gain some points in the ATP 250 event in Dallas.
It's almost time. Three days to go for the inaugural #DALOpen.
🎟️ https://t.co/Z8100RqbFv
🗓️ https://t.co/BuKHzpyy52 pic.twitter.com/sjsvz1I7hc— Dallas Open (@DALOpenTennis) February 3, 2022
Sadly, that will not come to be, as he has withdrawn from the Dallas Open. Dimitrov, who was set to lead the first tournament in Dallas alongside Reilly Opelka and John Isner, will not be playing anymore.
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This is because the 30-year-old star has entered the health and safety protocols relating to the coronavirus. Consequently, the Bulgarian star will no longer be headlining the inaugural event in Dallas alongside Isner and Opelka.
Dimitrov’s short-lived Australian Open run
Undoubtedly, Grigor Dimitrov must have expected to go a lot deeper into the 2022 Australian Open than he did. The Bulgarian had begun well, with a first-round win over Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Dimitrov won the first round against Lehecka 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to enter the second round against Frenchman Benoit Paire.
However, Paire handed Dimitrov a shock defeat in the second round. Prior to the Australian Open, Dimitrov had been unable to make it to a Grand Slam third-round three times in a row.
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Thus, he couldn’t break his losing streak even at the Australian Open, when Paire defeated him 6-4, 6-4, 6(4)-7(6), 7(7)-6(2).
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Now, starting February, the world had been looking forward to Dimitrov, Isner, and Opelka spearheading the inaugural Dallas Open ATP 250 event. Sadly, the wait to see the Bulgarian former World No. 3 return to form is extended longer for everyone.
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