Grigor Dimitrov starts the year with a new coach.
Dimitrov began working with Dante Bottini, Kei Nishikori's former long-time coach, at the end of 2020. Nishikori, who parted company with Bottini after nine years together, is working with former Grand Slam doubles champion Max Mirnyi and Hall of Famer Michael Chang.
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The 21st-ranked Dimitrov, who had worked with a variety of coaches, including Andre Agassi and Dani Vallverdu in recent years, said he also spent time alone.
"Yeah, the moment I found out Dante was sort of alone, I reached out to him, just wanted to hear his thoughts a little bit on my game and, you know, on a potential work plan and so on," Dimitrov said. "I think we met, spent a very quality time together, and it's been a long time since I have had somebody that felt very similar to my way of thinking and my working ethic. We hit it off."
The partnership enjoyed immediate success. A dynamic Dimitrov defeated 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(5) in his Australian Open opener.
The 29-year-old Bulgarian's serve has been up and down in recent years. Today, Dimitrov served with confidence cracking 19 aces against two double faults setting up a second-round meeting with Australian wild card Alex Bolt.
"I mean, I have been, you know, No. 3 in the world. So you can ask me if I can come back there, yes, I believe I can," Dimitrov said. "How long it would take me, I don't know. Will I ever be back? I don't know.
"But I will sure try my absolute best, my absolute possible to put myself in that position again, you know, until I don't enjoy the sport anymore, until I don't want to play anymore, I don't want to compete."
Photo credit: US Open Facebook