Dimitrov refuses to buckle

Bulgarian holds nerve after losing second set to edge out Thiem

Grigor Dimitrov overcame a bout of beginner’s nerves to mark his ATP Finals debut with a three-set win against Dominic Thiem in London yesterday.

Dimitrov surrendered a one-set lead at the O2 Arena and then needed two chances to serve for victory in the decider before edging past the talented Thiem 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.

With Andy Murray away injured, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are the standout attractions at this week’s tournament but there may be few contests as entertaining as this one, lasting two hours and minutes.

Nadal opened his campaign against David Goffin last night but if the Spaniard’s creaking knee proves a burden, Dimitrov could even be a dark horse to top the group.

To do so, he will have to calm his nerves.

The 26-year-old is the first Bulgarian qualifier in the competition’s 48-year history and he admitted on court afterwards that he had struggled to handle the pressure.

“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous in my 19 first match here,” Dimitrov said.

“It’s not the same as practising on this court, you feel the weight on your shoulders, in a positive way, of course.

“I’m just very grateful to win in that manner. It’s not easy playing here for the first time.”

Ranked a career-high sixth in the world, Dimitrov took a break midway through the opening set and served out but Thiem levelled when his opponent wavered at the end of the second.

A shanked forehand wide gave Thiem a set-clinching break at 6-5 but Dimitrov again pulled ahead in the third, when a sensational drop-volley put him a break and 4-3 up.

“I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous in my first match here”

Serving for the match at 5-4, however, he wobbled again as a framed backhand beyond the baseline allowed Thiem a reprieve.

But the Austrian, per- haps also affected by the jitters, failed to consolidate as two consecutive double faults allowed Dimitrov a 6-5 advantage and a second chance to serve out.

Even with two match points, Dimitrov threatened to choke again as he spurned both, one with a double fault of his own.

He finally converted a third, however, when a Thiem backhand landed long.

“It’s a special moment for me but also I hope for my country,” Dimitrov added.

“For people just to realise that whatever you put your mind to, if you push those boundaries every day, if you work hard the sky is the limit.”

Thiem remains a potent force on his favoured clay but is yet to replicate that form on faster surfaces.

“On hard courts, he has beaten a top-10 opponent only once in 15 matches.

“It would have been better to win the match but there are still two more matches, two chances,” he said.

“It’s only over when I cannot reach the semi-final any more.”

STRETCH TO IT: Grigor Dimitrov plays a forehand at full stretch during his match against Dominic Thiem