Grigor Dimitrov one win from first ATP final for over three years

Grigor Dimitrov has not had the easiest time of it since a stellar 2017 season that took him to a career-high of world number three.

The world number 29 is into the semi-finals of the ATP 250 San Diego Open after defeating Aslan Karatsev.

Should he defeat second seed and world number 10 Casper Ruud, Dimitrov will be into his first final since Rotterdam in February 2018.

The tournament in San Diego is the first time that Dimitrov has been able to string together more than two consecutive wins since the Australian Open, his second event of the season.

Since that first Slam of the year, the Bulgarian had just a 9-12 win-loss record on the ATP tour.

The 2017 ATP Finals champion has not won a title since that triumph. Dimitrov won four titles in a career-best season to that date that year, including the Cincinnati Masters.

Dimitrov’s back at a huge level!

Grigor has reached his 1st SF of the year in San Diego beating Aslan Karatsev 6-1 1-6 6-2

(? @tennistv) pic.twitter.com/Z0QzF5TdMo

— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) October 2, 2021

Dimitrov and Ruud have never faced off before, and the more experienced man is ready for the challenge.

“He’ll be a very tough opponent but I’ll just be focusing on my side of the net,” Dimitrov said before their clash. “I’ll do everything possible to stop him.”

In contrast to Dimitrov, Ruud is on quite a hot streak of form. The Norwegian 22-year-old has already won four titles in 2021. Along the way, he has amassed a 45-12 win-loss record.

Ruud is also on course to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time, currently sitting ninth in the rankings ‘Race to Turin’. With Rafael Nadal out for the rest of the season, the Norwegian is actually eighth in a more practical sense, just making the cut.