Grigor Dimitrov felt very proud after the final of the Masters 1000 final in Miami despite his defeat in the final against world number 2 Jannik Sinner.
“I felt like a rock star these days, to be honest. It was amazing. I felt so embraced, and the support has been outstanding. I have never played a night match here let alone play on a center court, but after those last two, three matches, I really felt the crowd. I felt the love. Honestly, it’s amazing. I think it’s very fair. I think the crowd overall supports both ends”, said Dimitrov.
Dimitrov took out three top 10 players in a row, Hubert Hurkacz, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev to reach the third Masters 1000 final of his career. The Bulgarian player moved from world number 12 to number 9 in the ATP Ranking.
Dimitrov returned to the top 10 of the ATP Ranking for the first time since 2018. Dimitrov’s run to the Miami final marked the return of the one-handed backhand to the ATP top 10 ranking.
The Bulgarian player claimed his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati in 2017 and finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in Paris Bercy in 2023. In the past twelve months he won his first ATP title since 2018 in Brisbane and reached four more finals in Geneva and Paris Bercy in 2023, Marseille and Miami in 2024.
“I just want to focus on the positives this week. I was extremely determined throughout the whole week. I don’t think I have much time to be down on myself. I just want to embrace this moment as well. Just as you win, you need to be able to handle losing like that, even better than winning those type of matches. For me what’s better, above all that, as I have been able to win those matches back-to-back. I think the consistency of beating top players is way better a success than anything else. If you do that, you get the ranking, things are just getting better for you, but in order to do it, it’s where it all comes through. The discipline, the hard work, all the dedication, the adjustment to very different players throughout that time, you need to be able to do that on a constant basis. That’s been happening for the past eight, nine, twelve months. It’s been difficult. I had very difficult matches that I have lost, but I kept on believing, kept on doing the work”, said Dimitrov.
Dimitrov congratulated to Sinner during the post-match press conference. The Bulgarian had no doubt he had lost to a player, who is in the best shape of his life.
“Clearly, it’s Jannik’s week. He has been playing amazing tennis. It’s really impressive how he has been able to keep that way of playing. There is nothing to say to that, but at the moment he has been able to really put so many matches back to back with the same level, so all credit to him”, said Dimitrov.
Dimitrov earned an early break point, but Sinner ran away with the match after breaking serve in the fifth game.
“Of course I always say every player has his weakness. Maybe next time when I play against him, I will try to do something else, but today clearly I was unable to match his game and even to match his shots. I think for a little bit I was doing well, but a lot of the important moments went his way. That makes a huge difference in a match in a match from that calibre. It’s simple as that. Then also once he a little bit of confidence or he’s a break up, he becomes even more difficult to play and to even, get him on the back foot”, said Dimitrov.
