Grigor Dimitrov wins first US Open qualifying match
Grigor Dimitrov advanced to the second round of US Open qualifying after beating Italy’s Lorenzo Giustino 6-0, 6-3 in Flushing Meadows. The 35-year-old Bulgarian, ranked No. 137 and a 2019 semifinalist at the tournament, next faces Kazakhstan’s Timofey Skatov as he pushes for a main-draw berth.
Key Takeaways
- Dimitrov defeated Lorenzo Giustino 6-0, 6-3 in the first round of US Open qualifying.
- Ranked No. 137, he won 70% of first-serve points in the opening set and converted all three break points.
- He will next meet Timofey Skatov of Kazakhstan, ranked No. 205.
- A former top-10 player and 2024 US Open quarterfinalist, Dimitrov is fighting back into the main draw after injury setbacks.
The result puts Grigor Dimitrov one step closer to the 2026 US Open main draw at the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center in New York. Qualifying at Flushing Meadows is often called some of the toughest tennis of the season, with late-summer heat testing fitness after a long hardcourt stretch.
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How dominant was Dimitrov against Giustino?
According to Bulgarian National Radio, Dimitrov raced through the first set. He won 70% of points on his first serve and converted every break-point chance he created—three out of three.
He opened the second set with another break and closed the match on his first match point. The straight-sets scoreline left him with a 12-3 games tally, a nine-game margin that underlined how little resistance Giustino could mount on the day.
It was an efficient start for a player who once regularly contested the biggest stages without needing three rounds of qualifying just to reach the main draw.
Why does this US Open qualifying win matter?
Dimitrov is no stranger to deep runs in New York. He reached the US Open semifinals in 2019 and the quarterfinals in 2024. Those results came as a main-draw contender. Now, at 35 and ranked No. 137, he is scratching and clawing through qualifying to earn that same stage again.
Once a fixture inside the ATP top 10, he has been hampered by repeated injuries of various kinds. Qualifying offers a hard-earned path back into the last Grand Slam of the year. A first-round win in straight sets is a clear signal that he still has the tools to make that climb.
The bigger picture is simple: three wins secure a main-draw place. One is done. Two remain.
Who does Grigor Dimitrov play next in qualifying?
Dimitrov’s second-round opponent is Timofey Skatov, the Kazakh ranked No. 205. Skatov arrives with a 9-4 hardcourt record this season and more than 30 match wins across all surfaces in 2026.
Their head-to-head is listed at 0-1, with Dimitrov holding the win from their prior meeting. The second qualifying round is scheduled for around 12:30 EST as Dimitrov continues his push toward the main draw in Flushing Meadows.
Two more wins would complete the qualifying gauntlet. For now, the Bulgarian has banked a statement opener—and kept his US Open hopes firmly alive ahead of the Skatov clash.