Former world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov couldn’t hide his happiness after a hard-fought win over Hubert Hurkacz but noted that he is going one day at a time.
On Friday, Dimitrov edged out Hurkacz in a Monte Carlo thriller 6-4 3-6 7-6 (2).
Dimitrov, who has never been known as a clay court specialist, has now been through to his second Monte Carlo semifinal.
Dimitrov easily lost to Rafael Nadal in the 2018 Monte Carlo semifinal.
“I am just going one day at a time,” Dimitrov said after beating Hurkacz, per the ATP website. “I’ve put in the work — that’s all I’ve done. I’m not even thinking of how I’m playing or anything like that, I just want to [do] a lot of work.
“The season on clay is not that long so you just want to keep on building, and that’s all I’m doing right now. Of course, if I would have lost that match it would have been disappointing, but at the same time I wouldn’t be too down on myself because I’ve been doing the right things.”
Dimitrov recovered to beat Hurkacz
Hurkacz had a chance to serve out for the match in the 10th game but Dimitrov broke back.
Dimitrov missed out on two match points in the 12th game but dominated the tie-break to set up a semifinal against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“In the end I think it was very tough for both of us,” said Dimitrov. “I think physically we were both feeling well but I felt like I was staying on top the whole time and I was putting a lot of pressure [on him]. I think that may have been the difference.”
“All I could say to myself was just to put the ball in the court. I knew every time I was able to put the ball in the court and was getting in the rally, I feel like I was making him very uncomfortable. His serve was amazing, especially in that second set, so I really had to stay calm, to be honest.”