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What is the meaning of precipice in the sentence below and also the complete meaning of the sentence?

I believe precipice has negative connotations attached to it- a precarious condition or a situation of great peril. But in the given sentence 'precipice' does not have a negative connotation as far as my understanding goes. If not, what other words or phrases can substitute 'precipice' in the given sentence?

On Wednesday, Dimitrov beat Murray in a straight-sets quarterfinal, lifting himself to the precipice of his first Grand Slam final.

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    One of the words used in the definition of precipice is brink try substituting that.
    – Jim
    Commented Jul 31, 2014 at 4:09
  • @Jim Thank you for the answer. I have changed my question. Please have a look at it.
    – Sanket Verma
    Commented Jul 31, 2014 at 4:31
  • It also means very dangerous situation. macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/precipice I think it talks about this meaning.
    – Maulik V
    Commented Jul 31, 2014 at 6:19

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By "lifting himself to the precipice", I think he means Dimitrov has raised himself up to a new level—to the top of a cliff, so to speak—but his new position is precarious because the "big four" are up there (or something like that; I didn't read it carefully), and he risks being knocked back down again.

Sports reporters often use big words in strange (and often incorrect) ways. It's just something that they do.

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