- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia’s Matt Ebden will be looking to cause an upset when the takes on Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round of the US Open.
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary of the match from 1:00am AEST. After 3 wins in qualifying, to make the main draw, Ebden now faces a seed who has had a tough 2015.
Dimitrov has struggled to replicate his 2014 season, which included a Wimbledon semi-final, after losing in the first round of the French Open.
A straight set loss to Richard Gasquet, in the third round of Wimbledon, saw him separate from his Australian coach Roger Rasheed.
Since then though the Bulgarian has found form with admirable losses to Andy Murray in the round of 16 in Cincinnati and to Jack Sock at the Montreal Masters.
He looks to be on his way to bouncing back into the top ten, which he was at this time last year. For Matt Ebden 2015 has all been about breaking back into the top 100.
After falling out of the top 200 at the end of 2014, and out of the top 300 at the start of 2015, Ebden has been trying to come back to the top 100 for the first time since September last year.
This year he has had to come back through the Challenger level, and is currently 130 in the world, after some impressive performances.
5 quarter finals, 3 semi-finals, and two finals – including a win in Surbiton – have seen him inch closer to a level he should be at.
At his best Ebden is a top 100 player.
Whether his best is enough to beat Dimitrov will be the question raised today. They have faced each other twice with Dimitrov winning both matches.
In 2010 they faced each other at the Bangkok Challenger with Dimitrov winning 6-4 6-1. Three years later, at the Indian Wells Masters, Dimitrov won 6-4 6-4.
If Ebden is any chance in this match, he needs to serve well, and keep the sets close. In the Indian Wells contest he was punished on the second serve, and conceded eight break points.
If that happens then it will be a comfortable victory for the Bulgarian. Ebden will keep it close for a set but I expect the world number 17 to be too strong for the Aussie.
Prediction – Dimitrov in straight sets.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.