Grigor Dimitrov fought back to beat top seed Carlos Alcaraz in three sets and reach the quarterfinals yesterday in the latest upset at the Shanghai Masters.
The 18th seed won 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 against an out-of-sorts Alcaraz as the Bulgarian steps up his pursuit of a first ATP title since 2017.
He will next face the 22nd-seeded Nicolas Jarry after the Chilean defeated wild card Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
The first Shanghai Masters since the pandemic has opened up for Dimitrov after the exits of Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner.
Russia’s Andrey Rublev is the highest remaining seed left in the draw at five.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic is not in China.
“I’m still here, I’m not going anywhere,” the 32-year-old Dimitrov said after dismissing Alcaraz.
Spain’s Alcaraz, the world No 2, was chasing a seventh tour-level title of the season but he uncharacteristically crumbled after winning the first set.
