Video - Dimitrov's exceptional winning shot against Troicki in Basel in 2012
In the first round of the 2012 ATP 500 tournament in Basel, Grigor Dimitrov, then 21 years old, faced Viktor Troicki, the number 8 seed in the Swiss city that year. The Bulgarian, who was still an up-and-coming player at the time, had won in two sets against the Serbian player (6-3, 6-2).
At the beginning of the second set, while Dimitrov had a break advantage and was leading 2 games to 1 on his serve, the two men played a crucial point for the rest of the game and the match.
With the score at 40/40 on the Bulgarian's serve, he delivered a good serve which quickly allowed him to be offensive and come to the net to finish the point.
But on Troicki's passing shot attempt, Dimitrov then improvised an exceptional backhand drop half-volley which allowed him to win the point, and then the match a few games later (see video below).
A stroke of genius that still stands today as one of the most beautiful shots ever made by the former world number 3 in his career. Currently injured in the pectoral muscles, Dimitrov has not played a single match since Wimbledon. As for Troicki, a former world number 12, he retired in 2021.
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