Grigor Dimitrov defeats Aslan Karatsev in straight sets.

The Global No. 28 On Monday in Rotterdam, Grigor Dimitrov defeated Aslan Karatsev easily, 6-1, 6-3, and jumped right into his 2023 ABN AMRO Open campaign.

On the indoor hard courts of the Rotterdam Ahoy, the Bulgarian, who has previously finished in the final of the ATP 500 tournament, played with confidence. Dimitrov didn't have to worry about break points in his match against Karatsev because he won four of his own five chances to move to 8-1 overall. Dimitrov defeated three-time tour-level champion Karatsev for the second time in 2023.

The two also played each other in the first round of the Australian Open in January, and the Bulgarian won in straight sets. Dimitrov, 31, lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the third round of the Melbourne tournament. The eight-time ATP Tour champion will face either Roberto Bautista Agut or Hubert Hurkacz in the second round after winning on Monday.