A few years ago, these players were in the ATP Top 10 rankings, but now they occupy the 54th and 22nd positions, respectively. The main reason for their drop in rankings has been recurring and persistent injuries, but currently, both are healthy and ready to play at 100 percent. These players have a long history against each other, and interestingly, they last played each other less than a week ago on August 5th in Montreal. You can see the best moments of the match in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK4zf_YNddQ, and below we provide brief information about each player and a match prediction.
Grigor Dimitrov
The 28-year-old Bulgarian is currently ranked 52nd. Nicknamed “Baby Federer” since the beginning of his career, he failed to live up to expectations until the 2017 season when he reached the 3rd ranking for the first time in his career. From a young age, Dimitrov stood out as one of the most talented players of his generation and was particularly valued for his unique playing style, which is challenging for everyone to play against.
Dimitrov is known for his very strong forehand, which is a shot with his dominant right hand. He also received comparisons to R. Federer for his one-handed backhand. The Bulgarian feels comfortable playing on all surfaces and is very versatile. He is particularly distinguished by his dedication, fighting spirit, athleticism, and excellent opportunity creation and execution. He can hit from practically any position, and his high athleticism allows him to transition from defense to offense effectively. You can see highlights of Dimitrov's play in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPZ_Ow7Gzo0.
Unlike other “all-around” style players, Dimitrov also has a very strong first serve, often reaching speeds between 210 km/h and 220 km/h. Moreover, the Bulgarian serves excellently in crucial moments of matches and is considered one of the best “clutch” servers. His second serve is usually weaker but with a spin.
Since 2017, when he reached the highest point of his career at the 3rd position in the ATP rankings, Dimitrov has been plagued by shoulder problems. This lack of stability led to losses against potentially much weaker opponents and a drop to the 52nd position. The Bulgarian has won only 4 of his last 10 matches, and this season his win percentage is just 50%, which is unusual for a player of his level, considering past results. In his last match in Montreal, where he faced tomorrow's opponent, his physical condition looked good, and it is likely that Dimitrov will be ready for this match at 100 percent and finally return to winning ways, as he certainly has the talent and potential.
Stanislas Wawrinka
The 34-year-old veteran from Switzerland, often nicknamed “Stan the Man,” is one of the most beloved players among tennis fans. Currently ranked 22nd, the Swiss player is far from his best career achievements, but having fully recovered from long-standing injuries, it wouldn't be surprising to see him return to the Top 10.
Stan is known for having one of the strongest backhands in the entire ATP tour. He is also characterized as an excellent baseline attacker and capable of playing at a similar level on every surface, especially clay and hard courts. Moreover, Wawrinka has a very strong first serve, which can reach up to 232 km/h. Additionally, his forehand, which was considered one of his weakest points early in his career, has significantly improved over the years and is now one of the main weapons in Wawrinka's arsenal. Although known as an all-around style player who usually builds his game from the baseline, Wawrinka effectively uses opportunities to approach the net after a strong first serve using the “serve and volley” tactic.
Wawrinka was never considered one of the best players in the world until a crucial change – a coach switch in 2013. When former world No. 2 Magnus Norman started coaching Wawrinka, the Swiss player's game improved in every possible aspect, and for the first time in his career, he reached the ATP World Tour Finals, where the top 8 ranked players compete. Only in 2013, after the coach change, did Wawrinka reach the Top 10, something he had never achieved before. Here are some highlights of Wawrinka's play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyplW6HyR9c.
After a very poor last season, when Stan dropped to the 263rd position, significant progress has been made this season in his quest to return to the Top 10. Although the long-standing injuries are now healed, due to his age, it may still be challenging to perform well in several consecutive tournaments. However, there is no doubt that Wawrinka can still win in one or another tournament. The Swiss player has won 6 of his last 10 matches, including 2 victories against tomorrow's opponent G. Dimitrov and S. Tsitsipas, who is currently ranked 5th. If injuries do not recur, it would not be surprising to see Stan competing for the champion title in Cincinnati in the later stages.
Head-to-Head History
These players have met 10 times. S. Wawrinka has won 6 of those matches, while G. Dimitrov has won 4. On hard courts, the Swiss player has won 3 times, and the Bulgarian has managed to win only once.
Prediction
Currently, bookmakers consider S. Wawrinka a clear favorite, giving him odds of just 1.36 for a win. Wawrinka reached the quarterfinals in Cincinnati last year, so he has more points to defend than Dimitrov, making a victory here very important for him to maintain or even increase the points gained from this tournament. Wawrinka has convincingly won the last 3 meetings between these players without dropping a set, indicating that Dimitrov is a relatively favorable opponent for the Swiss player at the moment. It is highly likely that we will see another Wawrinka victory. A -3 game advantage with odds of 1.9 is a very good bet considering the recent form of both players and their head-to-head history.
