ATP Tour

Dimitrov pulls away for Paris win in first match since Wimbledon injury

Grigor Dimitrov has gone from devastation to delight by returning from his heartbreaking pectoral injury at Wimbledon with a stylish victory Monday at the Rolex Paris Masters.

The last time the Bulgarian competed, he led eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets to love behind a masterful performance on the London lawns before the injury forced a tearful retirement in the fourth round. Back in action on the indoor hard courts of Paris, the 34-year-old picked up where he left off with a 7-6(5), 6-1 win against home favourite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

"It never happened to me, so I think I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole time away from the court," a grateful Dimitrov said post-match. "It was never easy. I knew that coming to competition is just going to be a difficult task. I just wanted to come out and test myself, give myself a chance. I think winning or losing tonight, I still would have felt like I've given all I had. Of course, it's very difficult to adjust, especially playing against a player like him. You have to be aware throughout the whole time and stay focused.

"It doesn't matter how much experience you have. There's always that added stress, especially after so many months away. But listen, it's a good night. I'm taking it in and just going one day at a time at the moment."

The 2023 Paris finalist saved all three break points he faced and broke the big-serving Frenchman three times in a dominant second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Now 25-12 at the ATP Masters 1000 event, Dimitrov trails only Novak Djokovic (50), Boris Becker (29) and Tomas Berdych (27) for most wins at the tournament.

He will next face either 11th seed Daniil Medvedev or Jaume Munar.

Back like he never left! 💪@GrigorDimitrov defeats Mpetshi Perricard in straight sets on his return to the ATP Tour#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/Y2q19sd2Dp

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 27, 2025

Andrey Rublev also scored a significant victory on Monday in Paris, claiming his first match win since reaching the US Open fourth round with a 6-1, 6-4 result against Jacob Fearnley. The 12th seed improved to 8-8 at the ATP Masters 1000 level this season after a 1-5 start, with recent quarter-final showings in Toronto and Cincinnati.

After cruising to a 6-1, 2-0 lead with the help of four breaks, Rublev found himself locked in a second-set battle when British qualifier Fearnley levelled at 2-2. The tension mounted as Rublev missed out on three break points at 3-2, but he took his next opportunity on a break chance that doubled as match point.

"I had a very good [opponent] today. He can play very well, he's won good matches this year," Rublev said post-match. "I was able to step up and play solid tennis. I've been struggling for a while with the wins. To win such a match like this on centre court, it's a good feeling."

Rublev converted five of his 10 break points in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats, benefitting from 11 double faults from his opponent in the pair's first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. He will next face Learner Tien, a 6-2, 7-6(7) winner against Nuno Borges earlier on Monday.

Alexander Bublik also advanced on the opening day in Paris, keeping alive his slim chances for a top eight finish in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Playing Alexei Popyrin for the second time at an ATP Masters 1000 this season, the Kazakhstani repeated the result from their Madrid meeting with a 6-4, 6-3 win that levelled their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 2-2.

A pair of Frenchmen of the same given name advanced by the same scoreline, as Arthur Rinderknech beat Fabian Marozsan and Arthur Cazaux edged Luciano Darderi, both 7-6(5), 7-6(4). The tie-break drama continued elsewhere as Miomir Kecmanovic defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(2).