Dimitrov wins Marseille SF thriller, sets Humbert final

Corinne Dubreuil/OPEN 13

Grigor Dimitrov moved to within one win of capturing his second tour-level title of the season on Saturday when he clawed past Karen Khachanov 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-6(5) in an Open 13 Provence semi-final thriller.

In a three-hour battle, Dimitrov outlasted Khachanov in a series of gruelling baseline exchanges, using his slice to good effect to disrupt his big-hitting opponent and reach his 19th tour-level final.

"He totally outplayed me in the first set," Dimitrov said. "I was making a lot of mistakes. I kept on fighting, kept on staying. It was the only thing I could do in moments like that. I was a little down on myself as my shots weren't there and not accurate enough and he kept on putting a lot of pressure behind me and hitting a lot of good shots, so I was constantly on the back foot.

"A few points here and there made the difference. Nothing else. The match was such a mental battle for both of us. I kept on staying there and believing and I was just trying to win. I am very happy to be in the final. It is important for me."

The Bulgarian, who won his first tour-level trophy since 2017 in Brisbane earlier this year, rallied from 2/4 in the third-set tie-break before converting on his second match point to improve to 4-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Dimitrov will compete for his 10th tour-level title on Sunday when he faces Ugo Humbert. If the second seed triumphs, he will be the first player this year to win multiple tour-level crowns. He would also move to No. 11 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, just 35 points 10th-placed Stefanos Tsitsipas. The last time Dimitrov was in the Top 10 was in October 2018. He is already the first player in 2024 to advance to multiple title matches.

Humbert earned his seventh consecutive win on indoor hard courts when he overcame top-seeded Pole and defending champion Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the Open 13 Provence final.

The Frenchman Humbert won the title indoors in Metz at the end of last season and has continued his impressive recent record on the surface this week on home soil at the ATP 250 in Marseille, where he has advanced to his fifth tour-level final.

"It was not easy because I lost to him already three times," Humbert said. "The beginning was really strong. I got the break and played an amazing match today and I am very happy to be in the final today.

"It is not easy to play against him. Sometimes you don't get any returns in a game, so you must say, 'OK, that is it'. You have to stayed focused on your serve."

Humbert served well throughout to earn his first win against Hurkacz in the pair's fourth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The 25-year-old won 80 per cent (37/46) of his first-serve points and saved all three break points he faced to advance after 83 minutes.

With his win, Humbert gained revenge for his recent four-set defeat to Hurkacz at last month’s Australian Open. The fourth seed will aim to win his fifth tour-level title and maintain his perfect record in finals when he meets Dimitrov.

Humbert is currently No. 19 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings but could climb to No. 18 if he wins the trophy. His run has propelled him back into the Top 20.

Hurkacz won the title in Marseille last season and was chasing his eighth tour-level crown.