Grigor Dimitov’s Australian Open campaign finally hit high gear when his sputtering game roared to life against local favourite Nick Kyrgios.
The No.3 seed progressed to the quarter-finals, 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-4), after an intense struggle against Kyrgios on Rod Laver Arena on Sunday night..
The Bulgarian’s superb all-round performance was a far cry from the disjointed, error-riddled displays in the first three rounds that forced him to scrap his way to the fourth round.
“I learned that I can switch to another gear when I really need it,” Dimitrov said after he dismissed the local hope.
“This is something that I have been struggling with obviously in this tournament.
“The first couple of rounds or even the three first rounds I was not striking the ball well. I know that, but I was still clutch in the important moments, which was good.
“But (against Kyrgios) I was just able to overtake my game completely differently, having a high percentage in the first serve, high percentage on the return.
“Being able to play my game a little bit more, counting a little bit more on my strongest weapons.
“I think that was a good step forward for me.”
Dimitrov will battle unseeded British surprise packet Kyle Edmund for a place in the semi-finals.
“There is no place for underestimation or anything like that,” he said.
“The only thing I have been focusing since day one out here on the court is really looking after my side of the game and my side of the net.
“This is what I want to progress. I want to be better. And it doesn’t matter who I play I just want to do better.”