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Dimitrov ousted from Madrid Open by Paraguayan qualifier

football23 April 2026 17:44| © AFP
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Adolfo Daniel Vallejo © Getty Images

Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo said he felt like he was living "a movie" after he dispatched former world number three Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

The 21-year-old cracked the top 100 for the first time last month – following a 14-1 start to the season at the Challenger level – and is making his Masters 1000 debut this week.

He is the first Paraguayan to compete in Madrid Open history and will next take on American 17th seed Learner Tien.

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"For me this is unbelievable. It looks like a movie, I don't know what's happening," Vallejo told Tennis TV.

"The other day I played on Manolo Santana centre court. Today I played here. I used to watch him (Dimitrov), all the highlights. The points that he did against me today, I used to watch it on TV and to play against him... wow, I can't understand what's happening. I'm just trying to enjoy all this."

Former world number three and 2019 Madrid runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas eked out a 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) win against American lucky loser Patrick Kypson.

Currently ranked 80 in the world, the two-time Grand Slam finalist will square off with eighth-seeded Alexander Bublik in round two.

The soon-to-be-retiring Gael Monfils lost his opener 6-3, 6-4 to Camilo Ugo Carabelli, marking his last time competing at the Madrid Open.

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