Raphael Collignon upsets idol Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane: ‘It was an honor to play Grigor’ | ATP tour | Tennis

Match report

Collignon disturbs idol Dimitrov in Brisbane: ‘It was an honor to play Grigor’

Mpetshi Perricard and Nakashima reach QFs
January 8, 2026

Belgian qualifier Raphael Collignon ended Grigor Dimitrov’s ongoing comeback at the Brisbane International presented by ANZ on Thursday when he upset the two-time champion 7-6 (1), 6-3.

Dimitrov suffered a chest injury at Wimbledon and returned three matches later at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, recording a victory against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in late October. However, his comeback was short-lived, with the 34-year-old withdrawing ahead of his second round match.

This week, Dimitrov re-entered the match and defeated Pablo Carreno Busta in his first match in Brisbane, but failed to capture the Collignon serve in their one hour and 49 minute match. The 23-year-old saved all three break points he faced and won 82 percent (36/44) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, on his way to victory. Collignon has moved up 13 places to No. 71 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will rise to a career high on Monday.

“It was an honor for me to play against Grigor,” said Collignon. “As a child I watched him when I was at home and now I play against him. So it was a great pleasure to play against a great champion in Grigor and I am very happy with the way I played.”

In his second tour-level quarterfinal, Collignon will next meet Brandon Nakashima. The American defeated Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-2, 6-4 to qualify for his second quarter-final on Australian soil.

In other action, Mpetshi Perricard backed up his victory against fourth seed Tommy Paul with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) victory against Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. The long-serving Frenchman, who scored 53 winners against Hijikata, has fond memories of the ATP 250 event in Brisbane after progressing to the semi-finals last season. Aiming to equal that record this week, Mpetshi Perricard will next face Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Kovacevic defeated seventh seed Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 to improve to 2-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.