The Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov had a shoulder injury earlier this season. He had his fair share of struggles with the shoulder pain and battled through it the past two seasons. Due to the soreness, his rankings slumped, and he had a very sluggish season, so deep and low, that the memories are even painful for him.
However, the payoff for the perseverance turned out to be sweet and his fruits of labor sweeter, as the world number 78 stunningly upset the Swiss maestro Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of the US Open.
Who are the new coaches of Dimitrov?
Earlier this year, Dimitrov could not perform at the 2019’s Mutua Madrid Open and Taylor Fritz defeated him in the first round itself. In 2017, Dimitrov was being coached by Dani Vallverdu for three years, and under whose guidance, Dimitrov had won the ATP World Tour finals in 2017.
But, after the 2019’s Madrid Open, he made veteran Czech, former world number 8, Radek Stepanek and eight-time Grand Slam champ Andre Agassi, a part of his team. With them, he hoped to get results in major tournaments.
Then, post the Madrid Open fiasco, he said: “After my match, yesterday, Dani Vallverdu, my long-time coach and I sat down together. After three great years, we will be going our separate years.”
And Grigor later added saying: “We had some career highlights and amazing moments in the court. I want to thank Dani for everything he has done for me, and I wish him nothing but the best in his next endeavors.”
With the hope of delivering a few notable achievements as he had in the past, the Bulgarian said in Geneva that: “I want to go back to the top,” Dimitrov told reporters. “I am here to regain new confidence.”
He further added that: “Honestly, I have no expectations at this tournament, but I’m eager to chase a good result, together with my two coaches Radek Stepanek and Andre Agassi.”
Why Agassi and Stepanek are not with Dimitrov at the US Open?
Indeed, a new flush of confidence radiates in his play as he knocked off 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of the US Open. However, post-match there was a lot of speculation whether Agassi and Stepanek are still a part of his team as both were nowhere to be seen in his matches.
Putting all rumours to rest, Grigor said he had excellent assistance from his coaches and this week both stayed away to help him concentrate on the game.
Dimitrov told in an interview that: “I don’t know why, kick my butt a little bit, to wake up or something, soon we’re going to be reunited, but we’ll keep things the same for now.”
He also said: “I just came out prepared the best that I could, especially coming out from the past two weeks of preparation, fitness, good matches. I’m trying to build off that. And, little by little things are starting to fall into their place. Today was just another step.”
