Dimitrov Defeats Nakashima and Advances to the Miami Masters 1000 Quarterfinals
After Jakub Mensik's qualification due to Tomas Machac's withdrawal, a second player has secured a spot in the Miami Open quarterfinals, and it's Grigor Dimitrov. The Bulgarian is making his way through the tournament in Florida and, quietly, is establishing himself as a credible outsider in this late stage of the competition.
Dimitrov, ranked 15th in the world, has endured physically challenging months. Struggling with a hip issue earlier in the season, the 2017 ATP Finals champion defeated Brandon Nakashima (6-4, 7-5 in 1 hour and 22 minutes) in a match he controlled.
Not facing a single break point throughout the encounter, Dimitrov was opportunistic, securing one break in each set—enough to wrap up the match in straight sets.
Following his wins against Cina and Khachanov, Dimitrov now adds Nakashima to his list of victories. The American had previously eliminated Carballés Baena and Goffin to reach the fourth round.
A finalist in Miami last year, Dimitrov still has some points to defend in the coming days. He will face either Casper Ruud or Francisco Cerundolo for a place in the semifinals in Florida.
