Dimitrov reaches semis after easing past Goffin
Grigor Dimitrov was a class above against his 11th-seeded opponent on Wednesday, triumphing 6-3 6-2 6-4 at Melbourne Park.
Grigor Dimitrov progressed to his first Australian Open semi-final following a straight-sets win over fellow seed David Goffin.
Dimitrov was a class above against his 11th-seeded opponent on Wednesday, triumphing 6-3 6-2 6-4 at Melbourne Park.
The Bulgarian 15th seed dominated from the baseline, using power and agility to dictate points as he won through to a second grand slam semi-final and first since Wimbledon in 2014.
Dimitrov - who is yet to taste defeat this year with 10 wins and a Brisbane International title - will face either Rafael Nadal or Milos Raonic in the final four.
A player of immense talent, for one reason or another, Dimitrov has struggled for consistency since he reached a career-high ranking of eighth in 2014.
Now ranked 15th, Dimitrov dominated from the outset on Rod Laver Arena as he pounced on the talented Belgium.
Dimitrov made dream start as he broke to love following a strong service game and he went on to take a 3-0 lead inside seven minutes.
The 25-year-old allowed Goffin back into the contest, with the match back on serve at 3-3, before Dimitrov regained his composure to close out the first set, fending off a break point in the process.
Like the first set, Dimitrov broke Goffin in his first service game, only to be broken back immediately.
Dimitrov regained the break in the third game and he never looked back, striking again for a 5-2 lead as he saved three break points to take a commanding two-sets-to-love lead.
While he showed some impatience in the third set in his attempts to finish the match, Dimitrov still had too much quality for Goffin, who was appearing in his maiden Australian Open quarter-final.
STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN
Dimitrov [15] bt Goffin [11] 6-3 6-2 6-4
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Dimitrov - 33/25
Goffin - 29/46
ACES
Dimitrov - 8
Goffin - 6
BREAK POINTS WON
Dimitrov - 6/15
Goffin - 2/10
FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE
Dimitrov - 40
Goffin - 20
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE
Dimitrov - 75/43
Goffin - 68/38
TOTAL POINTS
Dimitrov - 106
Goffin - 84