Dimitrov Downs Rune In Brisbane To Win His First Title Since 2017

| by Erik Virostko

Grigor Dimitrov ended his six-year title drought after beating Holger Rune in the 2024 Brisbane International final.

The 2017 season was the best in the Bulgarian's career, and he ended it by winning the ATP Finals in November. However, since then, he did not win a single title, but now, six years and two months later, he ended the bad streak.

The Brisbane International was a tournament of comebacks when Rafael Nadal returned to tennis, and Naomi Osaka did too, but it was a tournament of comebacks also in a different way, as Dimitrov returned to the winner's circle.

In the final of the tournament, he took on Rune, who had been playing really well at the event, and even though he wanted to play Rafael Nadal in the final, his opponent proved to be more than worthy.

The first set of the final was a real drama. Both players had multiple break points, but neither managed to use their advantage. The Dane had three chances to break, while his opponent had two.

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The tie-break had to decide the first set, and Dimitrov had a better start into it, getting two mini-breaks, and despite losing one, he still won the tie-break 7-5 to secure the first set.

In the second set, both players were good on their first serve, but the second set troubled the 20-year-old, and that proved to be decisive as Dimitrov created seven break point chances.

He used only one of those, but it was enough to win the second set, and eventually the match, 7-6(5), 6-4, to win the 2024 Brisbane International. That marks Dimitrov's first title since 2017, as he's currently playing his best tennis since the 2017 season, which is still the best in his career.

Now, he will be hoping to replicate that success in the coming weeks at the 2024 Australian Open, where he will be one of the dark horses.

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