Grigor Dimitrov has despatched a warning shot to the Australian Open’s high title contenders with an authoritative second-round victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The No.13 seed stays unbeaten this 12 months after warming up for the Melbourne grand slam by successful the Brisbane Worldwide title, the place he beat rising Dane Holger Rune within the ultimate.
Dimitrov was in blistering kind as he dropped solely 5 video games and crunched 39 winners to Kokkinakis’ 14 in racing to a two-sets-to-love lead, earlier than having to dig in to finish a 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 triumph that moved him into the spherical of 32.
The defeat extends Kokkinakis’ file of by no means advancing past the second spherical on the Australian Open, at his eighth try.
“It was robust. He’s enjoying unbelievable tennis in the meanwhile. He was a greater participant, for positive, for the primary two units,” Kokkinakis stated.
“The primary set was in all probability nearer than 6-3. I had a whole lot of break factors to form of make it an actual contest, however he was enjoying nice. I felt like I couldn’t get the ball previous him – [he is] shifting unbelievably effectively [and] was enjoying very effectively, the primary two units.
“Then I fought arduous, scrapping, sneaking out the third set. The fourth set was a tussle. I bought damaged from 40-15,
which is disappointing [but] the higher participant gained. He’s enjoying nice.”
Kokkinakis, 27, fought arduous to outlast highly effective Austrian Sebastian Ofner in 5 units within the first spherical however couldn’t preserve tempo early with Dimitrov, whose fantastic contact across the internet prompted Channel 9 commentator Jim Courier to wonder if he was utilizing a racquet or a paint brush.
Dimitrov ventured to the online 56 instances – successful 45 of these factors – and was usually in a commanding place as soon as there, however his drop volley winner off his toes within the opening recreation of the third set was stupendous and earned him one other break level.