ATP-Finals: London-Champ Dimitrov: With heart and soul (and lots of charm)

Grigor Dimitrov has finally arrived where many people have seen him for a long time: almost at the top. Not by chance, but the result of hard work. The tour feels good.

By Florian Goosmann from London

It has often been written off as one of the lost generation – in 2017 Grigor Dimitrov showed that he can still be trusted with everything. Thanks to a great start to the season with 16 wins out of 17 games, he laid the foundation stone, which was a defeat against Rafael Nadal in the semi-final of the Australian Open, was one of the best games of the year. In August Dimitrov won his first Masters tournament in Cincinnati, his biggest success so far, topped by victory in London.

At the US Open 2016 Dimitrov was already expected to describe why he played so well, and he caught up, talking about regained training pleasure, thanks in part to the support of coach Dani Vallverdu, of butterflies in the stomach before a match,”I enjoy the work again. I enjoy waking up early in the morning and going to practice. I enjoy the ice baths. I enjoy pretty much everything I do:” After a time when he had gone from 8th place in 2014 to 40th place two years later.

That he’s a guy who’s good for tennis? It’s been known for a long time. But there are moments that you only experience with Dimitrov. A wonderful dialogue in a Melbourne press conference:

“Do you think your rise in tennis has been delayed because you have fallen in love with something else?”

Dimitrov (smiling):”What are you referring to? Tell me, it’s okay.”

When I was young, I liked young women very much. That’s often distracted me. I’d like to know if that’s what happened to you.”

Dimitrov:”You now deserve the best answer. Let me think about it. (laughs) That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever heard – wow. I obviously have a weakness for this. Seriously, I always try to keep such things outside the square. When I was younger, I distinguished between personal love and love for tennis. Or whatever. But there was a time when I wasn’t sure how to deal with both things at the same time. But you learn. We’re growing up. I don’t want to say that I have learned from my mistakes, but I got to know myself a little better. I think that helps me. Hopefully it will help me in all love matters for the future.”

Good luck to you.

Dimitrov (grinning):”Thank you”

Also here in London the press rounds with Dimitrov were amusing – the guy simply has charm. Question: He is Bulgarian, lives in Paris, lives in Monaco, has a Russian girlfriend in Los Angeles. Whether he sees himself as a citizen of the world. Dimitrov’s answer:”You only mentioned one friend. Come on, man!” Followed by a laugh. And: of thoughtful, detailed answers.

And Dimitrov doesn’t want to rest on his laurels “One of my biggest goals is to win a Grand Slam tournament. It’s always been that way,”he said after the final victory. He is now so slow to trust.

But also opponent David Goffin won the final in London. And he celebrated his greatest triumph two times – first against Rafael Nadal (“The greatest victory of my career, certainly”), then against Roger Federer (“The greatest victory of my career, certainly”). Even though, despite all the euphoria, he limited the win against Nadal because of his obvious injury.

Against his great role model Roger Federer he once again started the match as a blatant outsider, after six clear defeats, most recently in Basel. After the first round, everything seemed to end in a repetition of the usual process, but then Goffin took a heart and went to work more aggressively – with success. He also determined the final and caused spectacular rallies, but in the end there were a few mistakes too much against the waiting Dimitrov.

Before the tournament started, everyone had secretly hoped for another final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal; those who had therefore bought final tickets may have been annoyed in the course of the week. On Sunday evening they surely went home happy: The final Dimitrov against Goffin was the best game of the week – definitely worthy of final.

With two players who will also play in 2018, when the long-term injured Murray, Djokovic, Wawrinka and Co. will attack again, want to play upstairs. It should be exciting, the new season.