Grigor Dimitrov Advances to Roland Garros Quarter-Finals Amid Umpire Controversy

© AFP

Grigor Dimitrov (ATP 10) qualified for the quarter-finals of Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, on Sunday. The Bulgarian defeated the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (ATP 8) in the eighth finals on the clay in Paris in three sets: 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and 7-6 (7/3). However, the party was marred by a special scene.

In the third set, Hurkacz got so angry from the umpire that he asked Dimitrov if he wanted to make a substitution. “Do you want to continue with the woman here or change the umpire?”, said the Pole, while the umpire listened. Dimitrov was unsure what was happening and quickly dismissed the question. “Honestly, do what you want,” he said, after which the game resumed.

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Hurkacz in discussion with the umpire. — © REUTERS

Dimitrov eliminated Zizou Bergs (ATP 104) in the third round on Saturday. He will face the winner of the round of 16 between Italian second seed Jannik Sinner (ATP 2) and Frenchman Corentin Moutet (ATP 79) in the next round.

The 33-year-old Dimitrov never got past the fourth round at Roland Garros. He already reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open (2017), Wimbledon (2014) and the US Open (2019). The 27-year-old Hurkacz never did better than a fourth round in the French capital. He reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2021.