World number 15 Grigor Dimitrov will be up against the 82nd-ranked Christopher O’Connell in the first round of the 2025 ATP Dubai Open which will be played on Tuesday, February 25. Get all the Grigor Dimitrov v Christopher O’Connell predictions, betting tips and odds for this encounter in the section below.
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Grigor Dimitrov v Christopher O’Connell Head to Head
There have been three previous meetings between the two here and Dimitrov has won every single time, defeating him at the 2017 Australian Open, 2023 Geneva Open and 2023 Chengdu Open.
Dimitrov Fighting Fitness Issues
That Grigor Dimitrov has earned himself a second and probably a third wind at his career after having been written off by the naysayers in the past is due credit to him.
The former world number three is 33 years of age and ranked 15th in the world at the moment and this has been despite his recent struggles with his fitness.
Dimitrov, who had retired from his US Open quarterfinal last year, looked to have been hit with another bout of a fitness bug this year.
After making it to the semifinals in Brisbane, Dimitrov was forced to retire from his match against Jiri Lehecka and since then he hasn’t won a match.
He was forced to retire from his opener at the Australian Open against Francesco Passaro and when he returned in Doha last week, Dimitrov was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Lehecka again.
Can he turn things around here?
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O’Connell Comes Through the Qualifiers
Christopher O’Connell would have hoped to do a better in his home swing, in the three tournaments he played in Australia but had a poor start to the season with just one win from them.
That had come in Adelaide against Arthur Rinderknech with Alex Michelsen, Miomir Kecmanovic and Tommy Paul getting the better of him.
He won another round in Doha after having qualified for the tournament but that came against a player ranked 166th in the world in Hady Habib. Faced up to Jack Draper in the second, O’Connell was sent packing 6-1, 6-2.
Which is why, defeating Abdulrahman Al Janahi in the first qualifier here, but more vitally getting past the 1/2 favourite Botic van de Zandschulp in the second would have come as a huge relief.
Dimitrov v O’Connell Prediction
Dimitrov’s fitness concerns aside, he will be a favourite here but if there’s any gingerness in his approach, it could bring O’Connell into this contest. Expecting him to win a set.
Dimitrov v O’Connell Tips
- O’Connell to win a set – Yes: 1/1
