17 January 2018
World number 3 Grigor Dimitrov was pushed to the limit before scraping past 186th ranked Mackenzie McDonald of the United States who entered the main draw from the qualifications.
The Bulgarian who many experts consider as one of the favorites for the title at Australian Open, managed to win 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6 within 3 hours and 25 minutes.
"He deserves a lot of credit. He played an unbelievable game," said Dimitrov. "I had to fight so much and in the end I think my experience helped me."
"I'm so happy with the result and the fight."
In the third round on Friday Grigor Dimitrov will play No 32 Andrey Rublev. The Russian won the only match against Dimitrov - in the second round of US Open in 2017.
The Bulgarian who many experts consider as one of the favorites for the title at Australian Open, managed to win 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6 within 3 hours and 25 minutes.
"He deserves a lot of credit. He played an unbelievable game," said Dimitrov. "I had to fight so much and in the end I think my experience helped me."
"I'm so happy with the result and the fight."
In the third round on Friday Grigor Dimitrov will play No 32 Andrey Rublev. The Russian won the only match against Dimitrov - in the second round of US Open in 2017.
