It is QF day at the ATP 1000 Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo. The first big clay event of the season. The Bulgarian veteran Grigor Dimitrov will square off with the Aussie Alex De Minaur. This will be the 6th encounter between them.
Alex and Grigor have faced each other five times on the ATP Tour to date. De Minaur is up three to two at this point. De Minaur has won the two last matches between them. Last year in Rotterdam (indoor hard) and in Barcelona in 2023. The match in Barcelona is the only match they have faced off on clay. Both of the players have won nine titles each to date on the ATP tour.
The 26 year old from Sydney took good care of Medvedev in the round of 16. Alex won the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. De Minaur was able to convert seven out of 12 breakpoints. He won 58% of the points on his first serve and 63% of the points on his second serve. De Minaur’s serve was working much better than Medvedev’s. In total Alex won 59 points to Medvedev’s 39. De Minaur defeated Machac in three sets in the round of 32 at the ATP 1000 Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo.
De Minaur is ranked at the 10th spot in the world currently. He has won 19 and lost six matches in 2025. Here are some of his highlights from the season. Alex lost to Sinner at the Australian Open in the QF. De Minaur reached the final in Rotterdam but lost it to Alcaraz. Alex got to the QF in Doha and the round of 16 both in Indian Wells and at the Miami Masters.
The 33 year old Dimitrov squared off with the Chilean Tabilo in the prior round. Dimtrov was able to win the match in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Dimitrov had seven Aces to one double fault. He won a massive 77% of the points on his first serve. Grigor converted five out of his 12 breakpoints and he won 98 points to Tabilo’s 76. Dimitrov got the better off Vacherot in the round of 32 (2-1) and of Jarry in the opening round (2-0).
Dimitrov is currently ranked at the 18th position in the world. He has won 12 and lost six matches so far in the 2025 season. Dimitrov reached the semi at the Brisbane international. He lost straight away in Melbourne. Just as he he did in both Doha and in Dubai. Grigor reached the round of 16 at Indian Wells and the semi at the ATP 1000 Miami Masters. The man with the stylish one armed backhand is still going strong on the ATP tour. Dimitrov turned pro back in 2008.
