“I like Carlos Alcaraz. He is one of the most astute players on the Tour. At certain moments I see myself reflected in him, so I can imagine what could happen, even if it doesn’t always happen. He is very explosive and you always have to put him in a situation uncomfortable.
Sometimes you have to push your shots to keep him at bay. This is especially gentle on delicate spots. It’s like playing cat and mouse to see who strikes first. I’m sure he feels the same way. Being so young, he is a very complete tennis player. You can see all the things he does. I love his game, because he always keeps me on my toes.”
The Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov analyzed the match he won against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open and he revealed some aspects that he exploited to put the young Spaniard in difficulty, while praising him for the game he continues to show on the court.
Dimitrov’s impressive data: Alcaraz’s nightmare
Few would have expected such a clear defeat for Carlitos, especially in terms of scoring, given the period of form he was experiencing. Despite having already played over 200 matches in his ATP career, it is only the sixth time that Alcaraz has won just six games in an entire match.
It has already happened to Carlitos against Alexander Zverev twice, in Vienna and Acapulco, also in the same year, 2021, with Rafael Nadal in Madrid, also in the same year. The most recent against Felix Auger Aliassime in Basel, in 2022 and against Novak Djokovic in the ATP Finals played in 2023.
Players to concede 6 or less games to Carlos Alcaraz on Tour:
3 – Nadal (Madrid, 2021)
4 – Zverev (Acapulco, 2021)
5 – Auger-Aliassime (Basel, 2022)
5 – Djokovic (ATP Tour Finals, 2023)
6 – Zverev (Vienna, 2021)
6 – DIMITROV (Miami, 2024) pic.twitter.com/JB1UH4Zbiu— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) March 29, 2024
Beating Carlos Alcaraz is already a feat in itself. Winning so clearly, with such a high level score and performance is certainly not for everyone. The version played by Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open won over fans and media, who enjoyed a tennis spectacle in Florida.