BNP Paribas Showdown 2015: Score, Reaction for Roger Federer vs. Grigor Dimitrov
Normally a third, do-or-die set in a tennis match featuring Roger Federer and an underdog would be filled with drama and tension. After all, Federer is arguably the greatest player of all time and doesn't often get challenged by someone not named Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray.
Alas, there was little drama Tuesday even though Federer lost to challenger Grigor Dimitrov in the BNP Paribas Showdown exhibition in Madison Square Garden 6-2, 1-6, 7-5. The showdown came down to an entertaining third set that was somewhat disappointing to the fans in attendance pulling for the popular Federer.
It wasn't a major or even an ATP event. Rather, it was an exhibition match put on largely for those fans in the world's most famous arena. Federer and Dimitrov certainly gave the fans a show, although it was a rare close match between the two competitors.
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Federer was a perfect 3-0 in his career against Dimitrov coming into Tuesday's exhibition and didn't even drop a set in those contests.
However, Federer did drop a set against Dimitrov this time around, losing the first one 6-2 after a couple of early breaks from the one tennis fans used to call "Baby Fed." Perhaps most importantly, given that it was an exhibition, Madison Square Garden pointed out that the fans were getting to see plenty of impressive shots:
Federer bounced back and looked like his normal self in the second set and evened the match with a 6-1 victory. It looked like he was finally locked in and primed to cruise to a three-set win.
The real action happened in the third set when the two players paused the match and pulled a young spectator onto the court to play a point against the great Federer. Not only did he play the point, he actually won it with a beautiful lob shot over the top of Federer's head.
World Tennis Day reacted to the action:
Although the atmosphere was much more relaxed than it would have been in an actual match (can you imagine that scene at Wimbledon?), the third set was filled with some actual drama and impressive rallies on both sides once play got started again.
Federer held serve to push the score to a nail-biting 5-5, but Dimitrov responded with his own serve in the next game and then came up with the critical break to capture the match. It took some solid rallies and more endurance than both competitors likely figured heading into the match, but Dimitrov came away with the win.
He looked very pleased with the victory, via World Tennis Day:
BNP Paribas offered its congratulations as well:
"Congrats to @GrigorDimitrov for winning his first #BNPPshowdown against @rogerfederer @TheGarden #WorldTennisDay pic.twitter.com/HIXvz723tO
— BNP Paribas (@BNPPamericas) March 11, 2015"
It was certainly a surprise that Federer lost considering he is 11-1 with two titles in three tournaments already in the 2015 campaign. Playing against a younger Dimitrov before the schedule really heats up was at least a good way to prevent any rust and interact with the fans a bit.
As for Dimitrov, Tuesday's match may mean more moving forward than just an exhibition contest in terms of his confidence.
He had never won a single set against Federer in his career, let alone a match, and managed to walk away with the win Tuesday. Sure, it wasn't official, but at least he proved to himself that he can hang with one of the world's best.
He discussed playing Federer before Tuesday's match, via Rachel Cohen of The Associated Press: "It's always a pleasure when I play against him, even though I'm losing the last three times."
Apparently, the fourth time is a charm.
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