Grigor Dimitrov continues winning streak at the Rotterdam Open
Grigor Dimitrov defeats Andy Murray's Australian Open conqueror to make progress
Thursday 16 February 2017 00:13, UK
Red-hot Grigor Dimitrov racked up his 15th win of 2017, although the Bulgarian was made to dig deep against Mischa Zverev at the Rotterdam Open on Wednesday.
Dimitrov, who captured his second title of the season last weekend on home ground in Sofia saw off Zverev, who stunned world No 1 Andy Murray at the Australian Open last month, 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4.
The 25-year-old Dimitrov improved to 15-1 on the season with his only loss coming in the in Melbourne semi-finals to Rafael Nadal.
He will next face world No 76 Denis Istomin, who beat Novak Djokovic in the second round of the season's opening Grand Slam.
Dimitrov, the fifth seed, said: "I'm pleased with the win. Mischa did not make it easy for me with his game. I had to fight to win."
In a battle of the rising stars second seed Dominic Thiem fought back to beat teenager Alexander Zverev 3-6 6-3 6-4 while Belgian third seed David Goffin comfortably beat Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3 6-2 and Richard Gasquet put out Viktor Troicki 6-4 6-2.
In the second round, defending champion Martin Klizan battled to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-4, 6-1 defeat of 2016 semi-finalist Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Frenchman Pierre-Hughes Herbert advanced past qualifier Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 6-2 7-6 (7-4) while his fellow countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eased past Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-4 6-2
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