By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday October 14, 2021
At the age of 30 Grigor Dimitrov was given an opportunity to look back on his career today, a day that saw him notch his 100th Masters 1000 victory by upsetting Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in three wildly entertaining sets, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2).
The Bulgarian, who has now notched back-to-back comebacks from two sets down against top level opposition (yesterday it was a win from a set and double break down against top-seeded Daniil Medvedev), spoke in true Dimitrovian fashion about what the milestone means to him.
***For those not in the know: Dimitrovian is an adjective that describes the humble, soulful and appreciative musings of Dimitrov himself.***
“I didn't know until everyone started mentioning it now,” he said of his 100th Masters 1000 win. “Really I'm very humbled. It's such an amazing thing. I'm so thankful to everyone, to everybody that is in the team, that has worked in the team. Last but not least my family.”
Dimitrov, a former World No.3 who is now in possession of 344 ATP wins, including 70 at the Grand Slam level, says he never expected to be around for this long and to have such an impact on the sport.
“It feels like I want to say surreal because I never thought turning pro that I'm going to have let's say a hundred matches on such a level,” he said. “I'm very fortunate to be able to put myself in that position over and over, especially throughout the tough years, injuries and so on.
“It means clearly a lot to me. I really appreciate it. I'm very, very humbled on it. Like I'm smiling inside. I'm smiling inside. I think it's a beautiful thing. I'll keep on going hopefully another decade.”
The Bulgarian will bid for his second Masters 1000 final. He owns a career record of 1-5 in Masters 1000 semifinals and knows these opportunities don’t come around often.
He says that consistency of habit, and balance in his preparation and his life are what has triggered his recent upswing in form. Dimitrov has won 10 of 13 matches since the start of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati and only Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud have been able to earn completed victories against him (he had to retire at the US Open, in the second round to Alexei Popyrin.
“I would say the biggest thing is consistency,” he told Tennis Now. “You try to find that balance between playing, practicing, resting, eating, sleeping. Really I'm a strong believer in all those things. I think if you do them the right way, if you really focus on the right sort of protocol of how you want to go on and about, you don't try to get influenced by what somebody else does, what you've seen somebody else might have done in the past, I think it's where you're going to sort of build yourself up and establish yourself a little bit more on your own path, which I'm a big believer in, as well.
“I think these past weeks, not only days, I would say weeks, I've just been doing things for what I think is important to me and the things that are important for my game.”