Dimitrov Lends Helping Hand To Ballgirl

  • Posted: Oct 15, 2021

Have no fear, Grigor is here!

Grigor Dimitrov earned his biggest win of 2021 on Thursday when he beat Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) to reach the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open. But that was not the Bulgarian’s only victory of the day on court.

At 5-4 in the second set, Hurkacz hit a serve that stuck underneath the court’s back panel, and 15-year-old ballgirl Hannah Maarhuis was unable to retrieve it. But Dimitrov paused play to help the teen, who was working one of his matches for the first time. The Stadium 1 crowd roared in approval of the 30-year-old’s good deed as he pulled out the ball from underneath the panel.

“It was cool! I was embarrassed,” Maarhuis said, cracking a laugh. “It was stuck under the thing. He just said, ‘I can get it’!”

Dimitrov went on to win the second set and later the match, which marked his 100th ATP Masters 1000 win. He is into his first semi-final at this level since the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters.

The 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion will next play in-form Briton Cameron Norrie for a spot in the championship match in Indian Wells. One thing is certain: the ballkids for that match will know Grigor will be there to lend a helping hand if necessary!

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