Vallejo shocks Dimitrov on Madrid Masters debut
Hope
Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo produced a major upset on his ATP Masters 1000 debut, defeating former world number three Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 at the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday.
The 21-year-old becomes only the second Paraguayan to record a Masters 1000 match win since the format was introduced in 1990, joining Ramon Delgado. The victory sees Vallejo climb 12 places to number 84 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. He is set to face American Learner Tien in the next round.
Vallejo has enjoyed strong form this season, winning two ATP Challenger titles and collecting tour-level victories in Santiago and Houston. Earlier this year, he became just the third Paraguayan player to break into the ATP Top 100 rankings, alongside Delgado and Victor Pecci.
For Dimitrov, the defeat continues a difficult run. The Bulgarian, a former Madrid quarter-finalist, remains without a win since Indian Wells and now holds a 2-7 record for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
Elsewhere, Stefanos Tsitsipas came from a set down to defeat Patrick Kypson 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4). The Greek saved two match points in the second set before completing the comeback, ending a three-match losing streak.
Tsitsipas will next face eighth seed Alexander Bublik.
In other matches, Pablo Carreno Busta battled past Marton Fucsovics 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, while Belgium’s Alexander Blockx defeated Cristian Garin 4-6, 7-5, 7-5. Fabian Marozsan also advanced with a straight-sets win over Ethan Quinn, 7-6(5), 7-6(6).
