Bulgaria, Miami, Baby Federer: Everything you always wanted to know about Grigor Dimitrov (but never had time to find out) – updated after 2024 Miami Open
Grigor Dimitrov is the best Bulgarian player in history, Here is all you need to know about the former world No 3
Dimitrov
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Who is Grigor Dimitrov?
Grigor Dimitrov is a tennis player who competes on the professional tennis circuit. He has been ranked as high as No 3 in the world.
WHY IS GRIGOR DIMITROV IN THE NEWS?
Grigor Dimitrov reached his third Masters 1000 final at the Miami Open in March 2024, beating Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev on the way. After losing to Dimitrov in straight sets in the quarter-finals, Alcaraz said he had been made to feel like he was 13 by the brilliance of the Bulgarian.
In the final against Jannik Sinner, however, Dimitrov was found wanting. Dimitrov could only manage four games in the one hour, 13 minute clash, with Sinner sweeping past him 6-3, 6-1 to claim his second Masters 1000 title in style.
Regardless, the 32-year-old will return to the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2018 when the rankings are updated on Monday.
What did Dimitrov do at the 2024 Brisbane International?
Grigor Dimitrov beat Holger Rune in straight sets to win his first title in almost seven years on the ATP Tour.
What did Dimitrov do at the 2023 Rolex Paris Masters?
Grigor Dimitrov reached the final of the 2023 Rolex Paris Masters, beating third seed Daniil Medvedev, 11th seed Hubert Hurkacz, and seventh seed Stefanos Tsitsipas along the way before losing to Novak Djokovic in the final.
What did Dimitrov achieve at the 2023 Shanghai Masters?
The Bulgarian upset top seed and world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the round of 16 at the ATP Shanghai Masters.
This was Dimitrov’s first win over Alcaraz in four meetings and was his biggest win in terms of ranking since beating Daniil Medvedev (then world No 2) in Indian Wells in 2021.
When was Grigor Dimitrov born?
He was born on May 16, 1991, in Haskovo, Bulgarie. Now 32, he lives in Monte-Carlo.
What nationality is Grigor Dimitrov?
Grigor Dimitrov is a Bulgarian player.
What are Grigor Dimitrov’s best achievements?
In 2017, he won his first Masters 1000 title, in Cincinnati, and then won his biggest title, triumphing at the ATP Finals in London. He became the first Bulgarian to win the event since tennis turned professional in 1968. The victory took him to a career-high No 3.
What are Grigor Dimitrov’s best achievements in a Grand Slam event?
Grigor Dimitrov has reached three Grand Slam semi-finals; at Wimbledon in 2014, at the Australian Open in 2017 and at the US Open in 2019.
He has also reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open on three other occasions. At the French Open, his best performance has been making the fourth round in 2020 and 2023.
Dimitrov’s most recent Grand Slam performance came at the 2024 Australian Open, where he reached the third round before being knocked out by Portuguese world No 69 Nuno Borges in four sets.
HOW MANY ATP TITLES HAS GRIGOR DIMITROV WON?
Nine, so far. He won his first title in 2013, in Stockholm. He won three the following year, including victory at London’s Queen’s Club. His most successful year was in 2017, when he won four titles, including his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati and then the ATP Finals in London. After going more than six years without another title, he won his ninth and most recent title when he picked up the trophy in Brisbane in 2024, beating Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final.
How tall is he?
Dimitrov is 6ft 3in, (1.91m) and weights 81 kilos, according to his profile on the ATP Tour website..
Who is Dimitrov’s coach?
Dimitrov is coached by Jamie Delgado and Dani Vallverdu. Previously, Dimitrov was working with Christian Groh since December 2019. Earlier that year, he had separated from Vallverdu in May, after losing in the first round of the Madrid Masters. When he first broke onto the ATP Tour, he was coached by Peter Lundrgen, who said he was better than Roger Federer (his former pupil) at the same age. Dimitrov has also been coached by Peter McNamara, Patrick Mouratoglou, the Good to Great academy, Roger Rasheed, Franco Davin and Dante Bottini.
Where did he spend his formative years?
The Bulgarian was shaped by Patrick Mouratoglou, at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. In February, 2009, when he arrived, Dimitrov was ranked No 487. When he left the academy, in November 2012, he was No 48. In 2012, Mouratoglou became the coach of Serena Williams.
Who are Dimitrov’s parents?
The parents of Grigor Dimitrov are Maria Dimitrov and Dimitar Dimitrov. They were both volleyball players. His father won a silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. His mother is a sports teacher. They introduced him to tennis at the age of 5..
Is Dimitrov in a relationship?
Dimitrov is currently single, according to press reports. Most recently, he was dating Romanian actress and model Madalina Ghenea. They were first spotted together at the 2023 Madrid Open, when she attended the Bulgarian’s third-round match against Carlos Alcaraz. The pair split in late 2023.
Dimitrov has had a number of high-profile relationships. He dated former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger from 2015 to 2019. Prior to that, he was in a relationship with five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova, from 2012 to 2015.
Who is his agent?
His agent is Georgi Stoimenov, a Bulgarian who looks after only Dimitrov.
When did Dimitrov begin his career?
He began his professional career in 2008, at 17. The Bulgarian won his first Futures title in Barcelona, in May, before winning junior Wimbledon. He played in the main draw the following year. He also won the junior US Open title. At the end of 2008, Grigor Dimitrov was already ranked inside the world’s top 500.
It wasn’t until 2012 that he beat his first top 10 player, the then seventh-ranked Tomas Berdych in the Miami Masters. He won his first title the following year, in Stockholm, His best ranking is No 3, which he reached in 2017.
What is Dimitrov’s lifestyle?
A big reason for Dimitrov’s success (one Masters 1000 title, one 500 title, six 250 titles, and a Nitto ATP Finals title, plus multiple Grand Slam semi-finals) is his off-court work ethic. In addition to his dedication on the court, the Bulgarian is also disciplined off the court. In a video chat with Daniela Hantuchova at the French Open, Dimitrov confirmed that has never had one drop of alcohol in his entire life.
Why was Dimitrov nicknamed “Baby Federer”?
He often identified with Roger Federer. Same racquet, same clothing company, same style of play, and to some, the same elegance. Dimitrov is an attacking player with a one-handed backhand and his variety means he has many possibilities for each point. This earned him the nickname Baby Fed. But the Swiss champion stands out for his willingness to go to the net and ability to shorten points. In eight matches, Dimitrov beaten Federer only once, in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
WHAT DID DIMITROV THINK OF BEING CALLED “BABY FED”?
At first he enjoyed it, but as he established himself on the Tour, he soon grew tired of it, keen to establish himself in his own right. However, he has had to explain why he didn’t like it on many occasions throughout his career. “What can I say? We have debated that for quite some time and we have said it loud and clear that my name is Grigor,” he told reporters in Melbourne in 2017. “I think I’m proving that every day and every match that I’m winning out here in the slams, so I think that page is definitely in the past now.”
