Grigor Dimitrov downs top-seeded Daniil Medvedev in 3 sets at Indian Wells

By Associated Press

INDIAN WELLS: Grigor Dimitrov outlasted top-seeded Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open, extending the parade of upsets that has knocked out several top players.

Medvedev’s loss left the combined ATP and WTA tournament without its top two men’s and women’s seeds. Karolina Pliskova lost in the third round. No. 2 Iga Swiatek went out in the fourth round.

Dimitrov rallied from a set and double-break down to upset Medvedev, the U.S. Open champion who was chasing his fifth title of the year. Dimitrov, seeded 23rd, earned his first win over a Top-2 player since 2016, when he beat Andy Murray in Miami.

No. 2 Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Alex de Minaur 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-2, and No. 3 Alexander Zverev routed No. 14 Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-3.

Dimitrov reached the quarterfinals at Indian Wells for the first time. He’ll meet No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz, who beat 19th-seeded Asian Karatsev 6-1, 6-3.

“I always wanted to do well out here,” Dimitrov said. “I felt like I had so many chances throughout the years. I’ve lost very close matches, matches from match points and everything. I was very determined.”

Medvedev took control from the start, connecting on 80% of his first serves in the opening set. The Russian built a 4-1 lead in the second set before Dimitrov began turning the match around in front of a sparse crowd.

“He definitely flipped the switch,” Medvedev said. “If he plays like this, like he did starting from 4-1, he’s going to win the tournament.”

Dimitrov ran off five straight games to take the second set and even the match. The Bulgarian charged the net and closed out the match on Medvedev’s forehand that sailed long.

“He’s been the guy that has been playing the best out of everyone and always finding a way,” Dimitrov said. “It was a great, great match for me to win. But that’s not the end. That’s just another match at the same time. I got to stay focused and I got to look what’s ahead of me and move forward.”

Medvedev fell to 18-2 in North America over his last five events. He won in Toronto, reached the semifinals in Cincinnati, won the U.S. Open and then helped Team Europe beat Team World in the Laver Cup in Boston. He is 50-11 in matches this year, and is re-considering his plans to play in his hometown of Moscow next week.

“I really want to do, but yeah, I need to take care of my body,” Medvedev said. “I did feel exhausted this tournament.”

In women’s quarterfinals, former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka beat American Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2. Azarenka, the 2016 tournament champion, next plays 24th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko.

Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion, beat Shelby Rogers 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on the American’s 29th birthday.

“I feel like my tennis is getting better, more consistent,” Ostapenko said.

Attendance is limited to 60% capacity at Indian Wells Tennis Garden because of the coronavirus pandemic, which forced the tournament to the fall from its usual March date on the calendar.

Also reaching the quarterfinals were No. 11 Diego Schwartzman, No. 21 Cameron Norrie, No. 29 Nikoloz Basilashvili and American Taylor Fritz.

Schwartzman beat sixth-seeded Casper Ruud 6-3, 6-3. Norrie ended the hopes of American Tommy Paul with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory. Basilashvili beat Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6 (6). Fritz, who grew up in the Los Angeles area and frequently attended the tournament as a youngster, beat No. 10 Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-3.

“It’s nice to kind of put it together this week,” Fritz said.