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2019 Brisbane International Men's singles, second round Pat Rafter Arena, Queensland Tennis Centre Grigor Dimitrov vs John Millman |
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For the second time in a row, Grigor Dimitrov will face a huge challenge in the second round of the Brisbane International against Australian John Millman. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 12pm (AEDT).
This time last year, Dimitrov was entering a season where he was expected to excel and just maybe, breakthrough with a grand slam performance for the ages, stopping the big four.
Alas, that wasn’t to be with Dimitrov putting together a season he would rather forget, dropping to 19 in the world by the end of it.
First-round exits at both Wimbledon and the US Open hurt the Bulgarian, whose power game was severly lacking throughout 2018.
When he took on Millman last year, it was clear that, and the way he was able to control rallies with his groundstrokes, were his greatest attributes. After dropping the first set of that match, he came back to win a breaker in the second and then took the third pretty convincingly.
Dimitrov will be looking for a much better 2019 – one where he can live up to his potential. He started strongly enough with a strong win over Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets, but taking on Millman will be a different challenge altogether.
Millman has built his game over the years on being able to stay in points with excellent court movement and good ball hitting.
That was all on display in 2018 as he moved through the rankings to finish at 38 after starting outside the top 200.
The skills in his game, and the tenacity to keep fighting were catalyst to his run through the US Open, where he made the quarter-finals and had something of a career-best win over Roger Federer.
He was scrappy after the US Open to end the season and again so in the first round of his home tournament, struggling, but eventually putting away Tennys Sandgren as his serve took over the third set in a 6-0 romp.
Prediction
Dimitrov still didn’t look his best in the first round, and whichever way this goes, it’s not going to be over quickly. I’m going to take Millman to reverse the fortunes of last year.
Millman in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this second-round encounter at the Brisbane International from 12pm – midday (AEDT) and don’t forget to get involved by dropping a comment in the section below as the action unfolds on centre court in Brisbane.
Start time: 12pm (AEDT)
Venue: Pat Rafter Arena, Queensland Tennis Centre
TV: Live, Nine Network
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Dimitrov $1.41, Millman $2.97
Overall record: Played 2, Millman 1, Dimitrov 1
Last meeting: 2017 Brisbane International 2nd Round – Dimitrov defeat Millman 4-6, 7-6, 6-3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me for our live coverage of this one at the 2018 Brisbane International as Grigor Dimitrov made it to the quarter-finals. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back at about 3:30pm (AEDT) for Nick Kyrgios and Jeremy Chardy, so be sure to join me then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Plenty of positives to take that from Dimtirov, but also still plenty to work on ahead of the rest of the summer of tennis. His serve was good when it landed, but his first serve percentage wasn't very good. Against some of the bigger players throughout the rest of the summer, he is going to need to serve better than that. Credit to Millman. He kept fighting all the way there did the Aussie, even when down a set and a double break. Got it back to level, before Dimitrov broke again. Dimitrov will take on the winner of Dennis Kudla and Kei Nishikori.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, GRIGOR DIMITROV Big serve down the middle and Millman can't return on the backhand this time. Shame for Millman. He fought his way back into the match with a pair of breaks after going down a double break, but Dimitrov was too good across the course of the match. He is looking close to the form which took him to world number three in the world not all that long ago. Dimitrov 6 6 Millman 3 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman sends one long and now we have two match points. Dimitrov 6 5 - 40 Millman 3 4 - 15
Stuart Thomas
Expert
uh-oh.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman returns serve out this time. Dimitrov 6 5 - 30 Millman 3 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman returns well this time and plays the angles, but is defending big time here before Dimitrov slaps a forehand long. Dimitrov 6 5 - 15 Millman 3 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dimitrov with a big serve to grab the first point as he serves for the match. Dimitrov 6 5 - 15 Millman 3 4 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Suddenly, Dimitrov has found his range again. Big hitting and Dimitrov sends the backhand wide. Dimitrov will serve for the match after the change of ends. Dimitrov 6 5 - Millman 3 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Too good from Dimitrov. Changed the angle, then raced across the court and put the forehand away into the open court. Dimitrov 6 4 - AD Millman 3 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault. Dimitrov with an excellent return, then a backhand down the line and suddenly the pressure is back on the Aussie. Dimitrov 6 4 - Millman 3 4 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman opened things up nicely that time, but the forehand goes into the top of the net from the baseline. Dimitrov 6 4 - 30 Millman 3 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Millman. The second is down the middle and returned on a loopy forehand, which Millman attacks and smokes up the line. Dimitrov 6 4 - 15 Millman 3 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman looking good just at the moment. Dimitrov 6 4 - 15 Millman 3 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Millman. The second is out wide and returned on a sliced backhand, before Dimitrov nails one up the line. Dimitrov 6 4 - 15 Millman 3 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Millman up inside the baseline this time and he nails a forehand down the line. Dimitrov can't get there. Dimitrov 6 4 - 0 Millman 3 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
MILLMAN BREAKS AGAIN! LEVEL And a fault on break point now. The second is returned to the feet of Dimitrov, who then sends a backhand long. What a recovery! Dimitrov 6 4 - Millman 3 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another break point! Bit of luck there, but Millman will take it with a forehand popping off the net and falling in. Dimitrov 6 4 - Millman 3 3 - AD
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dimitrov now goes at the forehand and Millman returns well, but can't handle the incredible down the line forehand. Dimitrov 6 4 - deuce (1) Millman 3 3 -