Grigor Dimitrov Bagels Defending Finalist Dominic Thiem to Reach Australian Open 2021 Quarterfinals

World No. 3 Dominic Thiem took on the Bulgarian talent Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2021. It was their sixth meeting, with the 2017 ATP World Finals champion leading the tie 3-2. The Austrian star fell victim to the Bulgarian star today, losing 6-4 6-4 6-0, in a match that lasted for two hours. 

The match began with Dominic serving and he took a 1-0 lead. In the fourth game of the opening set, Thiem struck first blood and took the early break.

However, Dimitrov had other plans and struck right back, taking the next four games in a row and put himself in the driver’s seat. He eventually sealed the first set 6-4 in his favor. 

During the set, it was Thiem’s unforced errors that hampered his chances. After 57 minutes on the clock, the Bulgarian got the advantage, taking a one-set lead in the fourth-round. 

Grigor Dimitrov breaks Dominic Thiem early in set two

Much like the first set, the Austrian player began serving in set two and broke Dimitrov’s serve in the fourth game of the set. The Bulgarian star broke back the very next game and consolidated it by holding serve the next game, to level the set at 3-3.

In the ninth game, Grigor sensed an opportunity and broke Dominic again in the set, this time putting him in firm control as he served the set out in the next game, 6-4. 

After 1 hour and 40 minutes, the Bulgarian was one set away from causing an upset at the Australian Open. The unforced errors kept on coming for the Austrian and his serve let him down too. 

In the third set, the Austrian began serving and got broken immediately. In his next two service games too, Dimitrov broke him and took a 5-0 lead.

After less than 20 minutes into the set, Dimitrov served for the match and won the set 6-0, which took him to the quarterfinal of the Australian Open 2021.

Dimitrov didn’t commit a single unforced error, whereas Thiem registered 11 unforced errors in the third set. 

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