Can Dimitrov upset Djokovic?

The game of tennis has come across many great players. All those greats have had their own troubles in taking the courts with certain players. It is not that the other players were better than them, but there was something about them that somehow gave them an advantage over their much-fancied opponent – like Navratilova for Chris Evert, Agassi for Becker, and Nadal for Federer, to name a few. Likewise, given the way the Serbian superstar has played against young Dimitrov in the last two matches this year, one in Indian Wells and the other in Madrid, it is pretty evident that he has not been comfortable playing against the latter. Though Djokovic has managed to beat Baby Fed in straight sets in the first hard court Masters this year, it was a very hard fought match between the two contrary to what the score line would suggest. The world no. 1 managed to win the first set only with the help of a tie breaker during that match. And two more tie breakers were played between them in their next match in Madrid as Dimitrov won 7-6 6-7 6-3. These score lines only confirm the type of competition existing between them. If Dimitrov plays like he did in Madrid, then we are in for a cracker of a contest in the third round of the French Open.

Grigor Dimitrov idolizes Pete Sampras and plays like Roger Federer. Idolizing a legend and playing like another legend would only make him a better player. He may end up winning multiple Slams, and it is just the matter of time before he succeeds doing it. Upsetting one of the best players in a major event may just be the tonic that this kid needs in order to progress in his career. The victory against Sampras in Wimbledon 2001 fourth round served as a major boost for Roger Federer, who went on to own grass court tennis for a major part of the last decade. So, it is quite possible that Dimitrov also is waiting for one such break which would bring him many more titles in the years to come. Perhaps, today is the day which can change the career of the Bulgarian star. Though the odds are completely against the youngster in his match against the Serb, an upset cannot be completely ruled out.

Prediction: Novak Djokovic to win in four sets with at least one tie-breaker set.