Dimitrov Stays Hot In Sofia

Home favourite Grigor Dimitrov is one match away from a title at the Garanti Koza Sofia Open in Bulgaria. The third seed needed just 64 minutes to dispatch Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-3 in their semi-final on Saturday.

“Best start of the tournament for me. Kept a solid game. Tried to be as composed as I could... and just use every opportunity that I can,” said Dimitrov. “I'm happy to be at home in the final.”

The Bulgarian improves to 13-1 this season and continues to arguably play as well as he ever has. After recovering from dropping the first set of his opening round match in Sofia against Jerzy Janowicz, Dimitrov has been producing his best tennis this week.

Awaiting him in the final is second seed David Goffin, who came back from a break down in the third set to knock out fourth seed and defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(3). Dimitrov leads his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Goffin 2-0, including a quarter-final match last month at the Australian Open that Dimitrov won 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

“We played two weeks ago. I know what to expect from David again. He's looking for revenge,” said Dimitrov.

Goffin fell behind 1-3 in the third set against Bautista Agut, but rallied in a back-and-forth decider that featured six service breaks. The Belgian hit 12 aces and saved six of the 11 break points he faced to beat prevail in two hours and 44 minutes.

“It was a tough match, tough battle,” said Goffin. “I knew before that I had to fight against him because he's such a great fighter. I knew at the end I had to be offensive.

The win is Goffin's first against Bautista Agut in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. The Spaniard had been 2-0 against Goffin.

The 26-year-old Belgian will go for his third career title on Sunday and his first since 2014.