'Perfect' Dimitrov stuns Alcaraz to book Zverev Miami semi-final

MIAMI - World number two Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Miami Open quarter-finals on Thursday, beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Dimitrov played sparkling and energetic tennis to beat the Spanish top seed and will now face Germany's Alexander Zverev for a place in the final.

Alcaraz came into Miami on the back of his title in Indian Wells and with his sights set on the "Sunshine Double".

But from the outset, Dimitrov, who also beat Alcaraz in the fourth round in Shanghai, showed no fear as he attacked Alcaraz and broke early to take a 3-0 lead.

The Bulgarian pounced on every opportunity, coming to the net frequently and moving Alcaraz around the court.

He looked to be on his way to a comfortable two-set victory after he broke the Spaniard in the fourth game and then held for a 4-1 lead.

But Alcaraz was not about to roll over, breaking back to go 4-3 after smashing a cross-court winner at the end of an entertaining rally.

With the match back on serve, a tie-break seemed inevitable. But with Alcaraz serving to stay in the match, Dimitrov broke him when the Spaniard went wide and Dimitrov's arms went high in the air in celebration.

"In order to win against him, you have to play at your best. That's just how it is," said Dimitrov.

"I came into the match very focused and I think extremely clear on what I had to do. Sometimes simplicity is genius. It's very, very hard to do it, especially when you play against an opponent like that. But I was able to really dictate the game, 

"Honestly, it was a very, very great match on my end. And I'm just happy I finished it straight sets for once," he joked.

Alcaraz conceded he just had no answer to Dimitrov's brilliant performance.

"I have a lot of frustrations right now, because he made me feel like I'm 13 years old. You know, it was crazy," Alcaraz said. 

"I was talking to my team saying that I don't know what I have to do. I don't know, you know, his weakness. I don't know anything. That's why I have frustration right now."

Alcaraz said that he thought he had played better than in his loss to the Bulgarian in Shanghai in October.

"In China I made more mistakes, in the first, second ball, than today. I think he played even better today. He played great. I couldn't find solutions in today's match. His game was perfect," he said.