Grigor Dimitrov suffers first career qualifying loss at Paris Masters
Grigor Dimitrov’s difficulties throughout the current season have persisted at the Paris Masters tournament.
Dimitrov, a former world number three, appeared to be in peak condition at Wimbledon last year, holding a two-set lead over Jannik Sinner before a heartbreaking pectoral injury forced Dimitrov to retire from that match.
The Bulgarian has found it difficult to regain his previous form since that incident, with the exception of Wimbledon, where Dimitrov advanced to the fourth round by defeating players such as Matteo Berrettini and Jakub Mensik.
Due to this decline in performance, Dimitrov has dropped outside the top 100 this year and was compelled to begin his season by competing in the qualifying rounds at the Paris Masters.
Grigor Dimitrov experiences a career first by losing in the qualifying stage at the Paris Masters.
Dimitrov is a former finalist at the Paris Masters and had qualified for the main draw at the ATP 1000 event in every year since 2012, except during 2020 when he withdrew from the tournament because of a foot injury.
His participation in the Paris Masters qualifying rounds in 2012 was the only prior instance of Dimitrov competing in that stage, yet he still managed to advance to the main draw.
This year, however, the outcome was different, as Dimitrov was defeated in the first round of Paris Masters qualifying by Paraguayan Adolfo Daniel Vallejo, who won 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3, marking his fourth consecutive defeat.
Consequently, Dimitrov has now lost in qualifying at the Paris Masters for the first time in his career, and this marks his first qualifying loss at any ATP 1000 tournament since the 2012 Cincinnati Open.
| Year | Grigor Dimitrovβs Paris Masters result |
| 2012 | Second Round β came through qualifying |
| 2013 | Third Round |
| 2014 | Third Round |
| 2015 | Third Round |
| 2016 | Third Round |
| 2017 | Third Round |
| 2018 | Third Round |
| 2019 | Semi-final |
| 2021 | Third Round |
| 2022 | Third Round |
| 2023 | Final |
| 2024 | Quarter-final |
| 2025 | Second Round |
| 2026 | First Round Qualifying |
Dimitrov currently holds the world number 133 position in the live rankings, a standing he is projected to finish the year with, as there are no further tournaments on his schedule for the 2026 season.
As a result, Dimitrov will need to enter the Australian Open qualifying draw next year for the first time since 2011, leaving some uncertainty regarding his future in the sport.
