Grigor Dimitrov “The G-Unit” hits ground running at UTS with win over Jan-Lennard Struff “The Thunder”

The Bulgarian recovered to beat the home favourite 3-1 despite having just stepped off the plane

September 15, 2023

Grigor Dimitrov, the G-Unit, opened his UTS4 campaign with a win as he came from behind to beat home favourite Jan-Lennard Struff 3-1 in an entertaining battle in Frankfurt on Friday.

The world No 20 was outhit by The Thunder in the first quarter but then showed his style – despite having arrived late as a replacement for Daniil Medvedev – as he came through in the next three quarters for a 14-17, 18-11, 17-9, 14-13 win.

Struff led 12-9 in the fourth quarter and played his next point x 3 card with less than a minute to go but couldn’t get the job done and Dimitrov recovered to win in a deciding point.

“I enjoyed it,” said Dimitrov, who changed his nickname to the G-Unit, having played as “Grigor” in the past. “It’s always difficult with the music going on but it helps me to focus I think, the songs were on, thanks DJ.”

Struff starts strong in front of home crowd

On his UTS debut, world No 23 Jan-Lennard Struff began strongly in front of his home crowd, racing to a 9-3 lead, with the help of his next point wins 3 card as he opened up a 9-3 lead.

Dimitrov, returning to UTS with a new nickname, G-Unit, hit back to cut the deficit to 13-9 but Struff came up with some big serves and bold shot-making as he extended his lead to 16-11 at the end of the quarter.

Neither player seemed to know the rule about quarter points but Dimitrov got within two at 16-14, before a missed backhand gave the German the opening quarter.

“I’m very happy,” Struff said. “I learned the rules but it’s different when you’re playing. Eight minutes seems long but it goes very quickly.”

Dimitrov storms back into contention

Dimitrov bounced back immediately, though, ripping winners as he opened up a 12-8 lead, before extending it thanks to two big forehands.

Struff’s coach kept reminding him to play point by point but his man looked a little tired and The G-Unit didn’t even need to play his UTS card as he cruised to a 17-10 win in normal time, making it 18-11 after quarter points.

“It feels great, nice to get to that one,” Dimitrov said. “I was thinking about the card toward the end, but I think I’m into it now.”

G-Unit stamps authority on match

Dimitrov was clearly finding his range by this stage and he raced to an 8-0 lead, much to the disappointment of the Frankfurt crowd.

The Thunder got himself on the scoreboard at 8-1 down but with just over four minutes to go, he had very little time left to turn it round. Dimitrov used his card first, but failed to take advantage, but still forged a 14-6 lead.

With 56 seconds left, Struff tried his next points counts three card and sent down a big serve to reduce the deficit to five points at 14-9 and Dimitrov extended his lead to 16-9. Struff still had a chance to get back if he could win all the remaining points, but G-Unit won the first point to move ahead.

“I think I stayed in the point well,” Dimitrov said. “I’m starting to adjust to the surface now.”