Tough start of the tournament for Grigor Dimitrov.
The Bulgarian had huge problems to adapt to the new conditions in Rome to drop the opening set against a sticky Roger-Vasselin. The Frenchman put up a great fight to surrender just at the end of the match when he drop the service in the 9th game of the decider. Grigor wasn’t solid at all to also commit an astonishing 7 double faults (same disease as his girlfriend Maria Sharapova?). Eventually only 9 points separated the 2 players (97 Dimitrov 88 Roger-Vasselin). The final result was 4-6 6-3 6-4. Match Stats
From Grigor
The Bulgarian commented “The first couple of matches are always tricky, as you have to adjust to the different conditions,”
This time it was Madrid’s altitude to the speed of the Rome courts. As much as I’d like to say I became accustomed to the court, I was flat in the first set and didn’t execute my chances. I had to fight, but in the third set I rose a level. My racquet was slipping out of my hand at times, but I found a way around it.”
Next vs. Karlovic
Dimitrov will play boom boom Karlovic in the second round. The big serve Croatian is usually not a bit threat on clay. Head to head is 1-0 for Ivo.
