Wilander calls Dimitrov a nightmare opponent for Murray: "It didn't look like he had the weapons"
ATPSaturday, 02 September 2023 at 01:00
Former world number one Mats Wilander believes that Britain’s
Andy Murray did not have any idea how to get the better of Grigor Dimitrov.
The 36-year-old’s journey in the US Open 2023 came to an end
after suffering a thumping defeat in straight sets to Dimitrov with a score of
6-3, 6-4, 6-1.
Wilander, while talking to Eurosport, stated that Bulgaria’s
tennis star was a nightmare for Murray who looked short of ideas in the tie.
“It looked like Andy Murray was going to be in for a long
match, trying to move Grigor around a lot and take his legs, but he didn’t,” said
the seven-time Grand Slam winner. “It was just a great match; Grigor was moving
brilliantly. I look at it as Grigor Dimitrov might be playing the best tennis
of his career. An excellent job today in three sets.
“The older guys and women, the first set is crucial as you
can relax a little bit but it didn’t look like he had the weapons to hurt
Dimitrov. Grigor was hitting sliced backhand after sliced backhand and he
didn’t miss and he felt like he could go forever. He has been playing great
tennis the last couple of years but he is far from a veteran on Tour.
“You need a break or you need to win that first set, then it
feels natural to fire yourself up or you’re looking at the scoreboard. I think
Andy Murray keeps playing and pushing and hopefully he won’t run into players
who play like Grigor today. I’m wondering if when Grigor plays the young guys,
it might be a bit more difficult as an athlete but today the game plan was spot
on I think.”
Dimitrov will now face Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the round
of 32 clash of the mega-event on Saturday.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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