Grand Prix Hassan II, Marrakech

[12] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs. [385] Tommy Robredo (ESP)

Robredo led their head-to-head 2:1 going into this match; however, he is trying to regain his top form after injury and surgeries had derailed him for the last two years.  Theoretically Dimitrov had the advantage despite the losing head-to-head record; yet, one can never underestimate Robredo.  At his prime he was ranked as high as number five and he won his matches because he was calm and for the most part executed his plan of attack brilliantly.  Yes, he has aged but he is still the savvy player that he once was and just needs to string a few good wins together to see him threatening the top players once again.

He won the first set today and while we did not expect Grigor to give up without a fight the second set was unlike Robredo, he lost that easily 1-6. However, as you watched the match you could see the mental gears shifting as he realized where he had made the mistakes in the second set.  Just when you thought the momentum had shifted completely to the side of Dimitrov, the Spaniard began his comeback.  Point by point, using clay court tactics, he kept applying the pressure and forced his opponent to go for his shots from uncomfortable positions, which ultimately resulted in errors.

Ranked 385, he defeated his much younger and higher ranked opponent with a score in the third that testified to his ability to refocus after a bad patch in his match. When you watch a match like this you can clearly see the advantages of age and experience. While his opponent was the number one seed and expected to win the match, Robredo had other plans.  His never quit attitude won him the match 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 and gets him to his first quarterfinals since 2015.

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