Grigor Dimitrov triumphed in his first competitive match since retiring due to injury at Wimbledon, defeating Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Monday.
Dimitrov never saw his serve broken, gradually pulling away during the first set tiebreaker before dominating the second set. He lost only six points on his first serve, winning 22 of 28.
The 34-year-old Bulgarian dropped his match against eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the fourth round at Wimbledon. Dimitrov led Sinner two sets to zero before falling due to a pectoral injury that he was unable to overcome.
After Monday’s match, Dimitrov said he was “still trying to understand” being out for so long.
“It was never easy,” Dimitrov said. “I knew coming to the competition was going to be a tough task. I just wanted to test myself, give myself a chance. I think win or lose tonight, I would still have felt like I gave everything I had.
“Of course, it’s very difficult to adapt, especially against a player like (Mpetshi Perricard). You have to be aware all the time and stay focused.”
Dimitrov will face either Russian Daniil Medvedev, seeded No. 11, or Spaniard Jaume Munar in the second round. Medvedev and Munar will play on Tuesday.
Three seeds were in action Monday and all three advanced.
Russian Karen Khachanov, seeded No. 10, beat qualifier Ethan Quinn 6-1, 6-1 in 61 minutes. Fellow Russian and No. 12 seed Andrey Rublev beat British qualifier Jacob Fearnley 6-1, 6-4, and No. 13 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan beat Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-3.
Rublev benefited from Fearnley committing 19 unforced errors, including 11 double faults.
“I was able to improve and play solid tennis,” said Rublev, who had not won a match since the fourth round of the US Open. “I’ve been struggling with wins for a while. To win a match like this on Center Court is a good feeling.”
Of 16 matches played on Monday, only three reached the third set. Belgian Zizou Bergs beat Alex Michelsen 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic beat lucky loser Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (2). And Australian qualifier Aleksandar Vukic beat Frenchman Terence Atmane 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
Other winners included Learner Tien, German Daniel Altmaier, Frenchman Alexandre Muller, Argentinean Francisco Cerundolo, Italians Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Sonego and French wild cards Arthur Cazaux and Arthur Rinderknech.
–Field level media
