Grigor Dimitrov was eliminated in the first round of the Paris Masters qualifiers. The Bulgarian lost to Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, ranked 56th in the world, 7:6(3), 4:6, 6:3 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes. The match was part of the Rolex Paris Masters qualifiers, and Dimitrov participated by invitation.
Dimitrov started better and made the first break for 2:1. He consolidated his lead without losing a point, but Vallejo returned the break in the sixth game. The Bulgarian had several more opportunities to pressure his opponent at 4:4 and 5:5, but the Paraguayan escaped from critical situations.
In the tiebreak, Vallejo led 2:0, Dimitrov tied at 3:3, but then the Paraguayan made another mini-break. He won a long rally for 5:3, reached three set points and closed the first half with 7:3 in the tiebreak after 59 minutes.
The second half developed evenly until 4:4, without either of them reaching a break point. Dimitrov won the ninth game and in the next one got a chance to finish the set. He missed his first set point, but after a double fault by Vallejo he realized the second and tied the score after 43 minutes.
In the third set, Dimitrov allowed a break in the third game and fell behind by 1:2. Vallejo maintained his advantage with a convincing service performance and did not give the Bulgarian the opportunity to return the breakthrough. At 5:3, the Paraguayan reached two match points, and after a mistake by Dimitrov from a forehand, he ended the match.
Thus, Dimitrov failed to reach the main draw of the tournament in Paris. Vallejo continues in the second round of qualifications.