Dimitrov stars in Brisbane

Grigor Dimitrov in 2014 reached number eight in the world and won three tournaments, but his career stalled somewhat until late last year, and it took the 2017 Brisbane International to deliver the Bulgarian another victory on the ATP Tour.

Ranked seventeen prior to the event, Dimitrov displayed some wonderful early season form in dispatching Dominic Thiem, defending champion Milos Raonic, and in the final Kei Nishikori.

Three top ten players in succession - quite impressive.

The final was a roller coaster, set one noteworthy for the effectiveness of Dimitrov's first serve, relative to Nishikori.  Grigor was winning 79% of the time compared with 58% for Nishikori.  With two breaks of serve, Dimitrov clinched the opening set 6-2.

Set two was also claimed 6-2, but by Nishikori, who had turned things around dramatically, winning all but four points whenever he served, and about half of those when Dimitrov served.

Dimitrov reasserted himself in the decider, and although Nishikori held serve for the most part, the pressure was immense due to the ease with which Dimitrov was winning points on his racquet - 20 from 22 deliveries.

One break of the Japanese serve was sufficient for Grigor to take the set, the match and the title 6-2 2-6 6-3.

Chennai was the scene for another title success for Roberto Bautista Agut, far too accomplished for tall and inexperienced Russian Daniil Medvedev.  Roberto began 2016 in similar sparkling form, and will be hoping that the Aus Open treats him even better than his round of sixteen finish last year.

This week the final warm ups before Melbourne Park for the women include tournaments in Sydney and Hobart, while the men are fighting for titles in Sydney and Auckland.