Dimitrov topples Murray to reach Acapulco final

FE Team | Published: March 02, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

ACAPULCO: Grigor Drimitrov of Bulgaria hits a return against Britain\'s Andy Murray during their men\'s singles semi-final tennis match at the Mexico ATP Open here Friday. — AFP Photo

ACAPULCO, Mexico, March 1 (AFP): Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov edged second-seeded Andy Murray in three sets Friday to reach the final of the ATP Mexico Open, where he'll face South African Kevin Anderson.
The fourth-seeded Dimitrov, who had never beaten Murray in three prior encounters, triumphed 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/3).
Dimitrov needed two hours and 54 minutes on the Acapulco hard court to seal the victory, giving a leap of triumph as Murray's forehand found the net on match point to bring things to a close at 2:30 am.
After taking the second-set tiebreaker on his third set point, Dimitrov gained the advantage in the third set by breaking Murray in the opening game.
But he looked shaky as he tried to serve out the match in the 10th game, a spate of errors helping Murray break back to knot the set at five games apiece.
Murray saved two break points in the next game to take a 6-5 lead and Dimitrov, serving to stay in the match, held at love to force the tiebreaker.