TENNIS NEWS & UPDATE FROM LONDON ATP 2017 NITTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS • 10SBALLS CHECKS IN FROM THE 02 ARENA

Written by: Staff on 15th November 2017

TENNIS NEWS & UPDATE FROM LONDON ATP 2017 NITTO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS • 10SBALLS CHECKS IN FROM THE 02 ARENA

epa06331915 Dominic Thiem of Austria in action against Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain during the ATP Finals in London, Britain, 15 November 2017. EPA-EFE/NEIL HALL |

By Ricky Dimon

Good news for Grigor Dimitrov: he is through to the semis at the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals. Even better news for Dimitrov: he can’t go up against Roger Federer until at the title match.

One day after Federer clinched the top spot in Group B, Dimitrov won Group A by crushing David Goffin 6-0, 6-2. The Bulgarian, who opened in London with a three-set victory over Dominic Thiem, improved to 2-0 during round-robin competition after just one hour and 13 minutes.

“It could be,” Dimitrov said when asked if this was his best performance since the Australian summer back in January. “I’ve played I think a little bit over 50 matches. I think I need to sit down and think about it, but right now, from the top of my head, this is definitely the one that sticks out in terms of consistency, focus, striking the ball, movement, agility; everything that I can possibly think.

“Obviously I played well; it’s something I cannot hide. On my side, it was definitely a good day in the office.”

“I’m almost 100 percent physically,” said Goffin, who continued to have his left knee taped up. “I’m feeling okay. It was not the problem today. It was just a tough, tough match against Grigor, who played really well. He was better today. He played well. He was a little bit more aggressive. He came to the net from the beginning, from the first point. He was really solid until the end of the match.”

Goffin, who ended Rafael Nadal’s season with a three-set upset on Monday, is now 1-1 along with Thiem. They will face each other on Friday in a virtual quarterfinal, with the winner guaranteed to go up against Federer in Saturday’s semifinals.

Thiem picked up his first win of the week by beating alternate Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 on Wednesday night. The Austrian struck 12 aces and generated 13 break points–four of which he converted–before prevailing in two hours and six minutes.

“I’m very happy and pleased that I get the chance to play for the semifinals on Friday,” Thiem noted. “Not much calculating (to do). The winner goes through.”