Grigor Dimitrov works hard to make a return at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
A year ago, Grigor Dimitrov was ranked inside the top-4 after winning 2017 ATP Finals and the solid start of 2018 campaign. After an early exit in Dubai to Malek Jaziri, Dimitrov hit the exit door after an opening match at Indian Wells as well, struggling in the rest of the season and winning just 24 encounters overall and barely staying in the top-20 after losing gigantic 1500 points from London in November. Hoping for a much better run in 2019, the Bulgarian was halted in the quarter-final in Brisbane by an eventual champion Kei Nishikori, creating one break point in the entire match.
The Australian Open performance was not that good, struggling against an unranked Janko Tipsarevic, Pablo Cuevas and Thomas Fabbiano before losing a thrilling contest against Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round in three hours and 39 minutes, leaving the top-30 in February for the first time since August 2016! Besides form, Grigor started to struggle with injuries as well (it usually goes one with another), missing Rotterdam and Acapulco due to a right shoulder injury that he tried to overcome at Indian Wells.
Dimitrov was supposed to play against John Millman or Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round but he decided to withdraw, unable to compete at 100% and missing another big tournament to stay on just seven matches in 2019. Heading to Miami, Grigor is working hard to make a return at the second Masters 1000 tournament of the season in Miami, sharing a photo from the Hard Rock Stadium that will host the event for the first time next week. After a few decades at Key Biscayne, Miami Open has found the new home at Hard Rock Stadium, with almost 30 hard courts and the central stadium court that hosts Miami Dolphins. Grigor has won just nine out of 17 matches in Miami, playing in the fourth round twice and losing to Jeremy Chardy in the third round a year ago.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2UDlPqk
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