Grigor Dimitrov has already entered the territory of thirty, but he is perhaps showing the best level of his tennis career. Or, at least, the more mature version of it, with less comings and goings on the mental level. After reaching the third round at the Miami Open 2024, the Bulgarian reflected on several topics and answered the million-dollar question: is this the best Grigor we have seen?
The question makes all the sense in the world. Title in Brisbane, breaking a drought of more than five years without lifting any scepter; Masters 1000 final in Paris-Bercy, looking back at the window of the big titles; victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai, giving himself the pleasure of defeating a top-2 again. The last months of Grigor Dimitrov They are those of a player who has rediscovered his tennis, who faces life on the circuit with the wisdom that comes from more than a decade of experience and has corrected the mistakes of a crazy youth. The Bulgarian spoke about all this with Tennis Channel after advancing, in a match in which he was two points away from defeat against Alejandro Tabilo, in the Miami Open 2024leaving some reflections that, believe me, are worth reading.
– Are you playing the best tennis of your career right now?
“It could be, yes. I think you’re not wrong… I would say that I’m playing better tennis, in general. You have to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, that’s life. I think I can still be a candidate for the big ones.” titles, I have demonstrated it in recent months and I continue to demonstrate it today. I want to stay in that mode, in that feeling that I am living in the present. If you do everything correctly, opportunities will come to you, it is a It’s a question of how you can take advantage of it. The only thing that depends on you is to go for those opportunities, maybe some will come along that are even better.”
– Find the balance between what happens on and off the court
“Each player lives a different situation. There were times when I thought I could have it all, that I could do it all (laughs). As time has passed I have begun to understand my strengths, on and off the court. I have learned to finding the balance between all kinds of moments: you are on the court and the next moment you live is in the massage room, receiving treatment; suddenly, you are fighting for a new match, for a new tournament… for me, it The most important thing is to be present and live all those unique moments, separately. It keeps you in the present. You have to be 100% in each of those moments… and then you have no doubts. The toll of regrets is very expensive, too (laughs)”.
– Winning when you are not having your best day: have you improved in that aspect over the years?
“I think so, but it goes hand in hand with your game. The more time you spend on the court, the more you understand this sport. When you have very close victories, you generate and create confidence in the face of those situations. I am increasingly consistent in those moments of pressure, my heart no longer races as much as before, but at the same time I try to enjoy myself on the track… I want to continue enjoying it. I want to improve, there’s nothing more (laughs). It’s not easy, especially when you’ve been there for so long. playing, but there is always room for improvement. Improving is what I am most obsessed with right now.”
– The importance of numbers and statistics in tennis: do you stop to read them after each match?
“Some numbers are important, yes. Of course, I don’t want to worry too much about the numbers: many players play differently depending on the moment of the game, so for me the most important thing is to look at the most basic statistics. I have faced practically all the players on the circuit (laughs), so I know more or less what they can do in moments of pressure. Of course, today Tabilo served at an impressive level… it was impressive. It became a great challenge for me”.
– No one-handed backhands in the top-10: do you think that, for young people today, the most optimal thing is to grow up with a two-handed backhand?
“Good question, good question (laughs). I guess… it’s difficult. The one-handed backhand is a very complicated shot. I think the only way to have a very good one-handed backhand is to play that shot from the beginning. Beyond that, it is a very difficult shot. Would I always teach that shot? Of course (laughs). It has its moments, although there are moments when it is very hard on your body: the slice, moving and hitting the rest , getting on the court… there’s a lot of work on your shoulder, of course.”
2024-03-24 22:23:45
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