The 33-year-old Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov will wrap up the season in the top-10 for the second time in a career. Grigor ended the 2024 campaign with a 46-18 score, playing consistent tennis and lifting the trophy in Brisbane at the beginning of the season. Dimitrov will seek the Brisbane Open title defense in 2025, signing to kick off the new season at the Queensland Tennis Centre. The organizers will try to gather a strong field, targeting the players not defending the nation's colors at the United Cup. Grigor will compete in Brisbane for the ninth time, lifting two trophies and embracing a 23-6 score. Novak Djokovic could join his good friend Dimitrov at the ATP 250 event at the beginning of the season, saying he plans to compete in the first week.
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Dimitrov reigns in Brisbane 2024
Grigor started the 2024 season with a trophy in Brisbane, although he made a shaky start! The Bulgarian faced Andy Murray in the first round and lost the opener. Dimitrov prevailed in the second set and ousted the veteran in the decider for a winning start. He used a favorable draw and defeated Daniel Altmaier, Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson en route to the title clash against Holger Rune. The more experienced player defeated the young gun 7-6, 6-4 in two hours and 16 minutes for his first ATP title in six years! Grigor served at 70% and defended his second serve nicely, defending all three break points and keeping the pressure on the other side. Rune could not follow that pace despite great resistance, playing against nine break points and defending eight. The Dane lost a tight opener and suffered that lone break in set number two to finish runner-up.
Dimitrov faced two break points in the first game of the encounter after a forehand error. He denied them and held with a service winner, avoiding an early setback. Rune saved a break point in the fourth game before facing another at 2-3 after the rival's forehand down the line winner. Holger saved it with an unreturned serve and closed the game after another deuce, landing a forehand winner for 3-3. The Bulgarian experienced a break point in the seventh game, saving it with a smash winner at the net. They served well in the remaining games and arranged a tie break. Grigor provided two mini-breaks for 3-0 and generated three set points after Holger's wayward backhand.
The more experienced player converted the third with a smash winner, wrapping up the opener after an hour and nine minutes. They embraced a thriller on Rune's serve at 1-1 in the second set, playing for 17 minutes and collecting nine deuces and three break chances. The Dane denied them and landed a forehand crosscourt winner for a hold. Dimitrov provided two fine holds and made another push on the return at 3-3. He broke the young gun after welcoming his forehand error, moving in front and holding for 5-3. Holger served to stay in the match in game nine and denied two match points with winners to prolong the battle. The Bulgarian served for the title at 5-4 and made no errors, landing a crafty backhand volley winner and celebrating his first ATP title in over six years.
