Dimitrov squeezes into Rotterdam semis after nailbiter

Bulgarian sixth-seed Grigor Dimitrov edged into the Rotterdam Open semifinals on Friday, seeing off a determined challenge from Kazakhstan's Alexander Shevchenko 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 6-4, in a nailbiting match.

Shevchenko was coming off what he had hailed the "best win of his career" against Dane Holger Rune in the previous round in a breakthrough tournament.

The first set went with serve until the tie-break, neither man even creating a break point such was the service dominance.

Shevchenko fluffed an easy volley wide early in the tie-break and this seemed to shake his confidence, a series of unforced errors allowing Dimitrov to close out the set 7-6 (7-2).

Shevchenko finally broke the Bulgarian's serve early in the second set, backing up accurate serving with powerful forehand groundstrokes to take it 6-3.

The deciding set followed the same pattern as the first, staying with serve until 5-4. Some stunning retrieving by Dimitrov finally broke the Kazakh's resistance, and the Bulgarian ran out the winner 6-4.

4th Rotterdam Semi-final! 💪

A great 2024 continues for @GrigorDimitrov as fights past a Shevchenko 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4!@abnamroopen | #abnamroopen | alyssavanheyst 📸 pic.twitter.com/BtJRDtMOl5 — ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2024

The world number 13 seemed unhappy with his performance, admitting he struggled to read the Shevchenko service.

"The way he was serving was just incredible. For some reason I was not really able to find my angles. He was not giving my any time to develop my game," Dimitrov said.

"Today was just one of those matches because I was not at my best. Hopefully I can raise my game" for Saturday's semifinal.

Elsewhere in the draw, Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner seeks to continue the unbeaten 2024 run that took him to glory in Melbourne as he faces Canadian veteran Milos Raonic.

In the other quarterfinals local hero Tallon Griekspoor takes on Finn Emil Ruusuvuori, and Australian Alex De Minaur is up against second seed Andrey Rublev.