Race Against Time: Grigor Dimitrov is Slam ready, but the clock is ticking as well

Sometimes expectations in sports, especially in an individual sport can be tough to handle. While it can inspire some, it can also put enormous pressure on others. Perhaps, Grigor Dimitrov fits this category best. Ever since he broke onto the ATP World Tour, he has been compared to the great Roger Federer for their similar style of play.  The media even billed him as ‘Baby Fed’ a few years ago, much to the displeasure of the Bulgarian and the Swiss maestro himself. 

Sadly, Dimitrov struggled through the early years in the men’s circuit and despite being blessed with talent and an all-court game; the desired results never came his way. While he won a few ATP Tour titles, the big ones eluded him. Although he dazzled spectators with his wide array of strokes, many also feared whether he would remain one of the greatest underachievers in the game. Until last year, there was genuine concern in the tennis fraternity that his talent would go waste.
 
However, it all changed early this year in Melbourne. Dimitrov’s resurgence en route to the semis at the Australian Open once again rekindled hopes. Sure, his gut-wrenching loss to Rafael Nadal raised questions, but his fearless attitude was refreshing to see. After his impressive start in Australia, Dimitrov tasted success in Cincinnati by winning his maiden ATP 1000 Masters. While another disappointment followed in New York, he closed out the year by winning the biggest title of his career-- the World Tour Finals in London. In the process, Dimitrov finished as the World No.3—his best ever finish in a calendar year. 

So, what changed for the Bulgarian? 

As the old adage goes: Who you surround yourself with, you become. Dimitrov’s move to train with Rafael Nadal at his Academy in Mallorca, Spain in the middle of 2017 might just prove to be one of the most defining moments in the Bulgarian’s career. A master plan plotted by Dimitrov’s coach, Dani Vallverdu worked beautifully for the pair. 

Later in the year, Dimitrov himself revealed how he benefited from training with the current World No.1. 

"Who wouldn't want to practice with the No. 1 player in the world? For sure you can learn from it. It rubs off on you. We practiced usually in the morning from 9 o'clock to around 12 maybe. Pretty intense practice -- Rafa is an intense guy. His etiquette is magnificent. Winning, losing, he has the same body language.” 

“I mean, to me, he’s always been one of my inspirations. Sometimes when I’m down in the match, if I’m complaining or something, I was like, ‘Would Rafa do that? I don’t think so.”

In the past too, Dimitrov’s talent was never in question. It was the inability to come out trumps in critical situations, against the very best that actually infuriated fans and his entourage. That said, his unbeaten run at the WTF was a testimony of how he is maturing into a more confident and composed tennis player.  Mind you, Dimitrov wasn’t clinical throughout the tournament. In the semis & finals, he won despite being not at his best. Later on, he himself acknowledged the satisfaction on how he managed to add an important skill-set to his already rich arsenal. 

“Those are the most important matches, simple as that. That’s the most important thing for me, is to find a way to win a match even not on your best days.”

Today, along with his talent, he carries great self-belief and perhaps, most importantly the work-ethic that has been drilled into his system by Vallverdu is going to keep him in good stead going forward. 

Come 2018, Dimitrov will be brimming with confidence in pursuit of his maiden Major. Given his recent success and resurgence, he won’t find a better time and opportunity to add his name to the list of Slam winners. Remember, several marquee names will also be making their way back onto the tour and it will be interesting to see how the new World No.3 handles the challenge. 

For starters, the seedings will help, owing to which he is unlikely to face the ‘Big Four’ before the quarters in Melbourne. However, it’s not to be forgotten that barring Andy Murray, Dimitrov is yet to beat Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in a Major. Although it is still possible to win a Slam without having to face even one of the players mentioned above, we know how improbable it is!

The Bulgarian isn’t getting any younger. Unfortunately for him, he is going to be sandwiched between the ‘Next Gen’ stars—Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapavalov and the ‘Fab Four’. Of course, one can never rule out the threat from Juan Martin Del Potro, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka as well. 

Given Dimitrov’s comfort level on all surfaces, he should fancy his chances in all the four Majors. However, heading into Melbourne, he will have his best chance. Yes, the top players will return from injury, but they are also likely to be rusty. Given his impressive run Down Under in 2017, favourable seeding and result-driven momentum, maybe, Dimitrov could have a date with destiny on the final Sunday of the 2018 Australia Open, at the Rod Laver Arena. 

The other possibility though is, he might not win any Slam at all in 2018, but eventually accomplish the Holy Grail in 2019 or even 2020. Regardless, the time is now perfect for Dimitrov as he appears ready, but he would do well to realise that he is already 26 and the clock is ticking fast. 

As we have seen in the past, it’s not easy to gobble up Slams after 27-28, let alone capture the first one. Hopefully, Dimitrov won’t leave it for long. It will be one of biggest tragedies in recent tennis history if his kitty remains Slam-less. 

Come on, Grigor. It’s your time to roar!