Stockholm Open 2024 Final: Tommy Paul vs Grigor Dimitrov preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Tommy Paul vs (3) Grigor Dimitrov
Date: 20 October 2024
Tournament: Stockholm Open 2024
Round: Final
Venue: Kungliga Tennishallen, Stockholm, Sweden
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Hard-court (Indoor)
Prize Money: €690,135
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN | India - Tennis TV
Tommy Paul vs Grigor Dimitrov preview
Fourth seed Tommy Paul will lock horns with third seed Grigor Dimitrov in a titanic tussle for the 2024 Stockholm Open crown on Sunday.
Paul kicked off his campaign in the Swedish capital this week with a 6-2, 7-6(2) win over Serbian qualifier Laslo Djere in the second round, following a first-round bye. He defeated another Serbian, Miomir Kecmanovic, 7-6(9), 6-2, to reach the last four.
In one of his best performances of the year, Paul overpowered Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals. He dominated the early rallies, securing a crucial break in the sixth game to take the first set. He carried that momentum into the second set, breaking Wawrinka in the opening game with a blistering cross-court backhand. Another break his way proved enough as he went on to seal a 6-3, 6-2 win.
Dimitrov also received a first-round bye and opened his campaign with a 7-6(1), 6-3 win over Quentin Halys in the second round. He then cruised past Dominik Stricker 6-3, 6-2 in a dominant quarterfinal performance.
In the semifinals against Tallon Griekspoor, Dimitrov was slow to start and lost the first set. He responded strongly in the second, breaking Griekspoor early. Although Griekspoor leveled the score soon, Dimitrov secured a crucial break in the 12th game with a powerful down-the-line forehand to force a decider. The final set was tightly contested, with both players serving brilliantly. Dimitrov, however, turned it up a notch in the 10th game, breaking Griekspoor's serve to complete a 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 comeback win.
Tommy Paul vs Grigor Dimitrov head-to-head
Tommy Paul and Grigor Dimitrov are locked in at 1-1 in head-to-head matchups with Dimitrov coming out on top in their last encounter at the 2020 US Open.
Tommy Paul vs Grigor Dimitrov odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Tommy Paul vs Grigor Dimitrov prediction
Tommy Paul has been in top form this week in Stockholm, not dropping a set so far. He excelled in all areas in his previous encounter, winning 75% of his first-serve points while remaining unbroken. He was dominant at the net, winning 90% of points when moving forward, and struck 28 winners against just 16 unforced errors.
Grigor Dimitrov has also had a strong week, though he struggled early in his last match. He did, however, show remarkable mental resilience despite losing the first set to mount an impressive comeback. While his serve was below par, his groundstrokes and net play were exceptional. He won 80% of points when going forward and fired 40 winners with only 14 unforced errors.
Paul heads into the final with a 44-17 season record this year, including 24-11 on hard courts. Dimitrov holds a slightly better 43-15 overall record, with 31-9 on hard courts. While Dimitrov's stats may give him a slight edge, Paul has been more successful in finals this year, winning two titles compared to Dimitrov’s one.
This matchup promises a thrilling contest between two aggressive baseliners who aren't afraid to attack the net. The outcome may hinge on who can make a greater impact early in the rallies and take control of the fast indoor courts.
Pick: Dimitrov in three sets.