2016 Brisbane International: Dimitrov versus Troicki second round preview
A second-round match will pit 2015 semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov against Viktor Troicki on Thursday in Brisbane. Both players are aiming for a quarterfinal berth in the second time that they will clash in their careers.
Dimitrov didn’t find much success last season compared to 2014 that saw the Haskovo native claim three of his total of four career titles and compile a 50-18 record. From the 11th spot, he dropped to 28th in the world rankings. However, the Bulgarian believes he got his “spark” back.
“I’m starting to understand what happened to me this year and all the mistakes I've made,” Dimitrov said in an interview ahead of the 2016 Brisbane International as quoted by the official website of men’s tennis. “In a way, as negative as it has been, I think it's good that everything happened to me that way. I've experienced both worlds now. One day you're Top 10 - I was No. 8 in the world - next day I was No. 28. So it's a great contrast for me and I'm looking at things in a different way right now.”
The Bulgarian previously stunned fifth seed Gilles Simon in straight sets 6-3 7-6(10) in his opener, the first match in his 2016 season. Dimitrov, who was a runner-up in 2013 (lost to Andy Murray 7-6(7) 6-4), fired eight aces in his first-round match and saved six of his seven break point opportunities.
Meanwhile, Troicki dismissed American Steve Johnson in his first round match, 7-6(7) 6-1 to advance in the second round to book a meeting with the Haskovo native. Troicki lost to Dimitrov in Basel in 2012 6-3 6-2.
The 22nd ranked Serbian, who lost in the third round of the qualifying in Brisbane, compiled a 35-28 record in 2015. He claimed one title at the Apia International event in Sydney, beating Mikhail Kukushkin in the finals, 6-2 6-3.
Defending champion Roger Federer looms as a potential quarterfinal opponent for the winner of the match. Federer will play his second-round opener against qualifier Tobias Kamke on Thursday.
