13:59
Zverev – Dimitrov 3:1
The first serve is back in time, which makes life much easier for Zverev. This is how the Olympic champion organizes the match ball – and knows how to use it shortly afterwards because a forehand from Dimitrov touches down too late.
13:57
Zverev – Dimitrov 2:1
Zverev has a bad position with the ball and gets stuck on the edge of the net with his backhand. 3:30 p.m.! But afterwards a service winner helps him.
13:56
Zverev – Dimitrov 2:1
For the first time, Zverev now has to try the second serve – and gives up the point during the rally because the forehand doesn’t fit again.
13:54
Zverev – Dimitrov 2:1
Then a longer rally develops again. A cross-played forehand from Zverev ultimately just missed the target. This means Dimitrov races to his first win of the game with a clean sheet.
13:53
Zverev – Dimitrov 2:0
Suddenly the first one arrives at the Bulgarian. The right-hander can quickly build up pressure and score quick points. Three game balls are quickly at hand.
13:51
Zverev – Dimitrov 2:0
Five first serves – that’s how you work. Zverev confidently pulls off his service and increases it to 2-0.
13:51
Zverev – Dimitrov 1:0
The next impact bullet also has 223 kilometers per hour on the speedometer. There is little for the adversary to return.
1:50 p.m
Zverev – Dimitrov 1:0
With the German you can rely on the first one, he comes first reliably and then provides the first ace.
13:49
Zverev – Dimitrov 1:0
This time Zverev takes action, dares a little more in the rally and increases the pace slightly. That’s enough to drive Dimitrov into a backhand error. This is the early break for the Olympic champion!
13:48
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
It’s really striking how cautiously both of them are approaching this now and want to use their might to reduce the errors. This works for Zverev, but not for his counterpart. He misses a backhand and offers a third breakball.
13:47
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
Both of them now go about their work very carefully. This is how the longest rally by far develops. In the end, Dimitrov becomes too long, which is why the cue ball remains unused.
13:46
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
Both are very error-prone and there are no winning strokes yet. And Dimitrov’s first serve has only come twice. So of course the Bulgarian is suffering a lot, but at least he has a ball.
1:45 p.m
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
Zverev is unable to take advantage of the break opportunities. Now a forehand inside-in is too long for him. Debut!
13:44
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
Then the first serve comes, but in the subsequent rally a backhand slice from Dimitrov hits too late. Two break points for Zverev!
13:43
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
Dimitrov has problems with his serve. The first one doesn’t come at all and now the 32-year-old also makes a mistake with the second one – a double fault.
13:42
Zverev – Dimitrov 0:0
Zverev also made a slight mistake and didn’t hit the felt ball cleanly with his forehand. The thing is clearly going away.
1:40 p.m
1 sentence
Dimitrov opens the match at 7:40 p.m. local time and has to try the second serve straight away. The following rally doesn’t last very long before the Bulgarian puts a backhand into the net.
13:37
Head 2 Head
For the eighth time, both professionals will face each other in an official match. Only the first meeting in 2014 in Basel went to Dimitrov. Since 2016, Zverev has won without exception – including the three outdoor hard court matches. This year alone the two have faced each other three times. The German clearly won in Roland Garros and in Cincinnati. At the US Open, the former world number 2 corrected a deficit and did it in four sets.
13:33
Entry and coin toss
At this moment our protagonists enter the Center Court. After a few steps of preparation, they meet at the net with the Romanian chair umpire Raluca Andrei for the vote. The virtual coin falls in favor of the Bulgarian, who chooses premium. Afterwards they both play together some more.
13:27
Two ATP champions
Zverev also once became ATP champion – twice in 2018 and 2021. Otherwise, the 2021 Olympic victory is still above all else. However, the 2020 US Open finalist can also look back on five Masters triumphs and a total of 20 tournament victories. The last track was particularly emotional. After his long injury break and the comeback at the beginning of the year, his big success came at the home tournament in Hamburg. In addition, Zverev played in five semi-finals this year and has fought his way back up to 10th place in the world rankings.
13:21
Once number 3
Dimitrov is currently number 20 in the world rankings. The Bulgarian finished his best year to date in 2017 in third place in the ranking. At that time he won his only Masters title (Cincinnati) and achieved his greatest success as ATP champion. Dimitrov made it to the semifinals three times in Grand Slam tournaments and won a total of eight tournaments in his career. This season he was in a final again after five years, but lost out to Nicolás Jarry in Geneva. He also reached the semi-finals of the 500s in Rotterdam and Washington.
13:12
1:30 p.m
The first semi-final has just ended on the Center Court at the Sichuan International Tennis Center. The unseeded Roman Safiullin surprisingly defeated second seeded Lorenzo Musetti 6:3 and 6:4. The Russian’s final opponent will be determined as scheduled from 1:30 p.m. CEST.
1:07 p.m
Dimitrov without losing a set
Dimitrov is playing this tournament for the third time. The Bulgarian made it to the semi-finals at the first event in 2016 and to the quarter-finals at the most recent tournament in 2019. The 32-year-old also only had to intervene in the round of 16 this year, but has so far come through without losing a set. The third-seeded right-hander had no trouble at all against Juan Pablo Varillas and yesterday against Christopher O’Connell. However, these were unseeded opponents.
12:57
For the first time in Chengdu
Zverev is taking part in this tournament for the first time. As the top seeded player, the Olympic champion had a bye at the start and didn’t have to start until Saturday. In his two matches so far, the 26-year-old needed three sets each, but then defeated the Russian qualifier Pavel Kotov and yesterday, after falling behind, the 7th seeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanović.
12:47
Welcome
Welcome to the Chengdu Open! After a three-year Corona break, tennis is now being played again in China. In Chengdu we are experiencing the fifth edition of the 250 series hard court tournament that has been taking place here since 2016. Alexander Zverev will face Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals.