Rising star Grigor Dimitrov pulled off a confidence-boosting comeback to reel in former finalist Marcos Baghdatis in five sets and take his place in the fourth round at the Australian Open on Friday.
The Bulgarian 10th seed looked headed for the exit when the 2006 Open runner-up won the third set before he rallied to claim victory and set up a showdown with Andy Murray in the next round.
Dimitrov mastered Baghdatis and his boisterous band of chanting Greek Cypriot supporters to prevail 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in 3hr 28min on Show Court Three.
British sixth seed Murray later defeated Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-1, 6-1, 7-5 to make the round of 16.
Dimitrov, who beat Murray on the way to making the semi-finals at last year’s Wimbledon, could not mask his satisfaction in overcoming Baghdatis under the match conditions.
“I’m not going to hide my excitement of winning the match because it meant a lot to me,” the 23-year-old Bulgarian said.
“To be able to play three-and-a-half hours and win 6-3 in the fifth and feeling really good after the match physically, that says a lot for me.”
While Baghdatis, 29, is ranked 78 and his better playing days are now behind him, Dimitrov said the victory will give him extra confidence going forward in the year’s opening Grand Slam tournament.
“I just feel that matches like that, it’s really important to win, even if it’s not on your best days,” he said.
“I think this is how you go forward. Today was one of those days for me, that I didn’t really feel good on the court, wasn’t really comfortable with my game, but I found a way to fight through it two sets to one down.
“To me that says a lot. In the same time it gives me a lot of confidence.”
It took Dimitrov’s record in five set matches to 4-3 and one that will prepare him against two-time Grand Slam champion Murray in the next round.
“It’s a great matchup for me. I’m always excited to play against him. I had a tough loss against him in Paris and I always like that kind of challenge,” Dimitrov said.
“I think physically and mentally I’m ready to play that match and really give 100 percent. I’m going out there to win the match.”
The young gun broke Baghdatis’s serve four times and showed his conditioning work under Australian coach Roger Rasheed by finishing the stronger over the final two sets.