Tennis: Dimitrov couldn’t get past the finish line yet again, while Tsonga won in Antwerp

Grigor Dimitrov succumbed quite tamely with a 6-4, 6-2 scoreline to Del Potro in the finals of the Stockholm Open in Sweden.

Grigor Dimitrov needs a break

Lately, Dimitrov is just not getting that much-needed break against the elite players like Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray and Del Potro. Is he condemned to be relegated to the ranks of the also-ran? Just two weeks ago he extended Nadal to three sets at the Shanghai Masters but fell short of taking him out. That has mostly been the script of his matches against Nadal – to go down fighting.

At 26, time is running out for Dimitrov, the younger generation of Alexander Zverev, Dominic Theim, and Dennis Shapovalov are not making it any easier for him. Nothing seems to be missing from Dimitrov’s game, and yet he cannot get over the hump in matches against the elite players, and in the semi-finals, and finals. Del Potro played a powerful brand of tennis to lift the Stockholm title for the 2nd consecutive year and extend his head-to-head lead by 4, to 6-2, against Grigor Dimitrov.

Tsonga is back

In Antwerp, a resurrected Tsonga took out Diego Schwartzman in straight sets to take home the title. Tsonga did not lose a set in the tournament and played in his first final in over five months. With his winning performance, Tsonga showed that his knee problems are now over.

Tsonga will be leading France’s efforts in the Davis Cup final against Belgium, next month, and this tournament was part of his preparation for the upcoming Davis Cup final.