Carlos Alcaraz admitted that Grigor Dimitrov made him feel like he was “13 years old” during his quarter-final loss against the Bulgarian at the 2024 Miami Open.
The Spaniard said he didn’t know how to reply to Dimitrov’s performance and couldn’t identify a flaw in his opponent’s game, while expressing satisfaction with his own level.
Dimitrov stunned the world’s number two and top seed 6-2, 6-4 in the last eight in Miami on Thursday.
The world No. 12 gave a masterclass in all aspects of the game, and his immaculate tennis could have resulted in an even more one-sided scoreline – he had a break point to lead 5-1 in the second set.
Alcaraz was aiming to win the Miami Open for the second time and complete a Sunshine Double after winning Indian Wells earlier this month. Prior to this defeat, the 20-year-old had won nine consecutive matches and lost only two sets.
Having lost his first three matches against Alcaraz in straight sets, Dimitrov has now won the last two encounters, having first overcome the Spaniard in three sets at the 2023 Shanghai Masters.
The 32-year-old has extended his strong form from the second half of 2023 into this year, and he is playing his best tennis since 2017. Dimitrov finished 2017 with a career-high world No. 3 ranking, having won the Cincinnati Masters and the ATP Final.
In his news conference after losing to Dimitrov in Miami, Alcaraz admitted that he had no answer to the Bulgarian’s level.
“Well, I believe he played perfect tennis, almost faultless, if I may say so. I mean, I couldn’t figure out how to make him uncomfortable on the court. But, you know, he played a terrific game,” the two-time Grand Slam champion added.
“Well, I believe I played good tennis. I mean, I left the court thinking that I should have changed my game a little earlier, but I felt like I played decent tennis. Not perfect, but good.
“I feel frustrated right now because he made me feel like I was 13 years old. You understand, that was crazy. I was telling my team that I didn’t know what I had to do. I don’t know about his frailty. I know nothing.
“That’s why I have frustration right now, but, you know, in the fight of tennis, I left the court happy with my level.”
When a reporter brought up Alcaraz’s quote at Dimitrov’s news conference, he responded hilariously.
“(Laughs) That’s a great comment,” the nine-time ATP champion responded.
Dimitrov will meet world number five Alexander Zverev in the Miami semi-finals on Friday. He has a 1–7 record against the 26-year-old German.
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