As a 21-year-old professional tennis player, travelling the world to play the game he loves along with rather flattering comparisons to Roger Federer, Bulgarian rising star Grigor Dimitrov is living the ultimate fantasy—and it’s set to get even better.
Ending the year in the top 50 for the first time—currently at world No.48—Dimitrov showed his ominous stripes in 2012, claiming a top-10 win over world No.7 Tomas Berdych in Miami en route to a fourth-round berth.
He’s clocked up juniors titles at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2008, but with a killer backhand down the line and an impressive all-court game that draws the comparison to the Swiss king of tennis, Dimitrov grinned that his highlight is yet to come.
“I still haven’t reached that highlight that I’m looking for,” he said.
And while that highlight will be kept close to his chest, we can be sure it’s something else he can compare to Roger Federer.
“You’ll hear and see about it,” he grinned.
But, with nicknames of the likes of “G-Force” and “PT” (prime time), Dimitrov isn’t all about tennis, and for his first time at the Brisbane International, the man flying the flag for Bulgaria answered some get-to-know-you questions for Brisbane fans ahead of his second-round clash with Canadian Milos Raonic.
What are you hobbies away from tennis? I’m a guy that likes to improvise and do whatever I feel like in my free time. Of course I restrict myself from certain things though.
Which is your favourite Grand Slam? I like Australia a lot I have to say, but I’ll go with Wimby.
What do you like to do before a match? I like to get ready, warm up of course, which is the most important, listen to a bit of music and try to get into the right groove for the match.
What music are you listening to right now? I have nearly 10,000 songs on my computer, so it’s hard. But, I have Lana Del Rey at the moment.
Do you have any superstitions? Always. I like to use the same shower and try to do the same things I did the day before, and stuff like that.
What’s your tennis bag like? Always tidy. I’m just like that.
When did you decide to turn pro? I always wanted to be pro; that was just the thing I always wanted. So as soon as I started performing well, that was my goal.
What’s your favourite tennis moment? Winning Wimbledon as a junior probably.
What do you think of the comparisons to Roger Federer? I mean you can’t compare things like it. Of course it’s flattering and all that. I think the future will show the rest, but Roger is Roger and I am me.
Which player do you most like to play? I actually like to play everyone. I don’t mind anyone … for now.
Hopefully for Dimitrov his affinity for the ATP players doesn’t change after he faces second-seed Milos Raonic in their second-round match on Thursday, or perhaps we’ll know to blame it on a stolen shower-cubicle.
Regardless, Dimitrov is a player to keep an eye on, on and off the court in 2013.