Grigor Dimitrov adapted well to the challenge of facing a late replacement in the draw on Sunday, beating lucky loser Mohamed Safwat 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(1) to reach the second round at Roland Garros.
“We spent a bit of time [together] when we played juniors,” revealed Dimitrov. “I [have] known him for quite some time. He's a great guy.”
Dimitrov had prepared to face Viktor Troicki in the opening match of the tournament on Philippe-Chatrier Court before the Serb withdrew with lower back pain, handing Egypt’s Safwat a place in the main draw. Safwat, the first Egyptian man to compete at a Grand Slam since Tamer El Sawy at the 1996 US Open, only discovered he was playing Dimitrov one hour before the match, but handled the occasion well, testing the World No. 5 after a slow start.
“I just found out about [Troicki’s withdrawal] 30 to 35 minutes before I had to go out,” shared Dimitrov. “It's not easy when those kinds of things happen, you just need to be ready. You have played many matches in the past. You prepare yourself every day for different obstacles, whether it's weather, strings, balls, opponents. You just have to be ready.”
The fourth seed hit 31 winners and won 88 per cent of first-serve points to snap a three-match losing streak after just over two hours. Dimitrov entered Roland Garros after opening-match losses at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Madrid (l. to Raonic) and Rome (l. to Nishikori).
Dimitrov will face Jared Donaldson in the second round after the American battled back from two sets to one down to beat Chile's Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Donaldson hit 33 winners and won 84 per cent of net points (11/13) to set a first-time meeting with the Bulgarian star.
Dimitrov controlled the opening set from the baseline, hitting with greater power than his opponent off both wings to take a one-set lead after 22 minutes. The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion dropped just eight points in the opener, taking charge of important points on his forehand side to outmanoeuvre the lucky loser.
The second set appeared to be following the same pattern, with Dimitrov, once again, using his forehand to great effect to secure an early break. But Safwat rallied, after taking a medical time-out at a set and 4-1 down, to come to within a point of levelling proceedings at 4-4. Dimitrov saved break point, taking the initiative with a strong forehand before finishing at the net, to maintain his advantage before sealing the set with a composed hold to love two games later.
“I think [with] each game he started to feel a bit more comfortable and a bit looser hitting his shots,” said Dimitrov. “I think he was obviously very nervous at the beginning. I felt that in the first set. And even at some point in the second. So obviously when you have nothing to lose and you come in and start shooting a little bit, and he was serving well. Everything was just going, you know, his way.”
The Egyptian carried his improved level into the third set, bravely saving break points at 3-3 and 4-4 to keep pace with Dimitrov before reaching a tie-break. At that point, Dimitrov rediscovered his first-set form, dominating with the forehand to race to the finish line.
Fernando Verdasco also booked his place in the second round on the opening day, surviving a marathon four-hour, 22-minute battle against Yoshihito Nishioka 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5. The 34-year-old hit 87 winners and won 63 per cent of second-serve return points, rallying from 1-4 down in the fifth set to advance.
Verdasco will meet Guido Andreozzi of Argentina, who battled from two sets to one down to oust #NextGenATP American Taylor Fritz 6-7(4), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in three hours, 35 minutes. It is the 26-year-old's first Grand Slam match win in his maiden Roland Garros main draw appearance.
Did You Know?
Grigor Dimitrov is now one victory away from his 50th Grand Slam match win (49-30). The 27-year-old has won 20 matches at the Australian Open (20-8), six at Roland Garros (6-7), 15 at The Championships (15-8) and eight at the US Open (8-7).