Grigir Dimitrov emerged winner in an all-Top 10 meeting in the second round of the French Open against Hubert Hurkacz to join the league of active tennis stars to reach the quarter-finals of all Grand Slam and ATP Masters 1000 events.
The reward for the Grand Slam milestone which saw the Bulgarian prevail 7-6(5), 6-4, 7-6(3) to reach his first quarter-final at the clay-court major is a quarterfinal showdown against Jannick Sinner.
The 33-year-old Dimitrov has now reached the last eight at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
Dimitrov had a heavy fall after diving for a volley deep into the third set that required medical attention but it did not deter him as it took two hours, 51 minutes to wrap up a massive win at Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
He has now won all six tour-level matches he has played against the Pole whom he is friends with outside the courts.
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“It’s very hard to play against such a good friend. I’ve known him for quite a few years,” said Dimitrov post match with the on-court interviewer.
“We practice a lot and we’ve had quite a few moments together. I knew it was going to be a difficult match, but I knew also that I had to fight a lot.
“I always wanted to get to that second week. Roland Garros was the only Slam where I felt that I could not get that extra step. But today, 15 years later, I made it, so I’m very happy with that.”
The 10th-seeded Dimitrov crucially saved all five break points he faced in the opening set, including three from 5-5, 0/40.