GRIGOR DIMITROV LOSES ISTANBUL TENNIS FINALS TO DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN ON A GAME PENALTY BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 1st May 2016

GRIGOR DIMITROV LOSES ISTANBUL TENNIS FINALS TO DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN ON A GAME PENALTY BY RICKY DIMON |

Well this was certainly an interesting final… Huge congrats to Diego – he was undoubtedly the better player today, and his fighting qualities are truly inspiring. But I am really disappointed in Grigor. For more than four years, I’ve been a big fan of his, but his actions were beyond unacceptable. I’m glad he apologized, and I hope we can all move on. – Photo by @dropvalley via Instagram.

Diego Schwartzman captured an ATP title for the first time in his career on Sunday. But it’s safe to say that is not what anyone is talking about now and not what anyone will be talking about anytime soon. Although Schwartzman staged a major comeback to get the best of Dimitrov 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-0, he did not have the pleasure of celebrating in style.

That’s because the match ended on a game penalty assessed to Dimitrov, who destroyed three rackets during the contest–all in the third set. The Bulgarian smashed one early in the decider, resulting in a warning. He was soon docked a point for putting a swift end to another one of his sticks.

Thus the stage was set for one of the most bizarre endings in recent tennis history. With Dimitrov serving to stay in the match at 0-5, he had a game point at 40-30. A broken string–believed to be his fifth of the afternoon–eventually led to the No. 2 seed sailing a backhand long. When he went to change rackets, Dimitrov smashed the offending frame to pieces for a third transgression and a game penalty.

He did not even wait for Mohamed Lahyani to make the official call before shaking hands.

“I let my family down, I let my team down, I let my fans down with that kind of behavior which I definitely apologize for,” Dimitrov told the crowd during the trophy ceremony. “It’s all my fault. There’s not much I can say.”

“First, tough day for Grigor,” Schwartzman commented. “You’re a big player. You’re gonna play many finals. Respect to you, and sorry about today.”

It wasn’t the first time Dimitrov melted down in Istanbul. In his opening match against Adrian Ungur, he completely obliterated a racket late in the second set. Dimitrov eventually survived that contest 7-5, 4-6, 7-5.

The world No. 29 will play the Mutua Madrid Open this coming week. He is set for a first-round showdown against another one of this week’s runner-ups, Pablo Carreno Busta. The Spaniard lost to countryman Nicolas Almagro in a three-setter in Estoril on Sunday.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Photo by @centrecourtcc via Instagram.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Clay tennis, Diego Schwartzman, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Istanbul Open, Istanbul tennis final, Ricky Dimon, Tennis News

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

philtenisleague says:

May 2, 2016 at 12:27 am

RT @10sBalls_com: #Dimitrov Loses Istanbul #Tennis Finals To #Schwartzman On A Game Penalty By @Dimonator
https://t.co/C40EJl4S7C https://t…