Grigor Dimitrov had three set points to force a fifth set in the Wimbledon semifinal against Novak Djokovic, and failed to convert all three as he went on to lose to the eventual Wimbledon champion in four sets. That failure aside, it was a Wimbledon fortnight filled with success for the 23-year-old Bulgarian. He reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, taking out defending champion Andy Murray on his home turf in a dazzling quarterfinal performance. He stretched his career-best winning streak to 10 matches, which included a title at Queen’s Club and a top-three victory over Stan Wawrinka. And, perhaps best of all, he received affirmation that his diligence in the weight room and on the practice court with coach Roger Rasheed is paying off. It has been a blossoming season, to say the least, as Dimitrov has turned up his intensity in 2014 and appears to have finally arrived as a major threat to tennis’ big four. So, inquiring minds want to know: What is the ceiling on the wildly talented and equally charismatic Bulgarian? Is he destined to be the next multiple Slam winner, or will he remain a puzzling enigma, a highlight reel regular who can’t quite find the consistency to become a tour de force at the big events? One thing’s for certain: With taskmaster Roger Rasheed as his coach, Dimitrov won’t be satisfied with his Wimbledon performance. In one of the most wise-beyond-his-years decisions of Dimitrov’s career (one that has been praised by many a pundit as the best decision of his life), he elected to sign on with Rasheed last year, knowing full well that the coach would be eager to make him suffer for the cause. “For me I think it was just a matter of time to learn something about myself more than anything else,” Dimitrov said of his decision to go with the Aussie as his helmsman. “He brought a lot of discipline, shot selection, all those things.”
In 2014, Dimitrov has finally achieved a level of fitness that allows his brand of tennis to be sustainable. Rasheed’s hardcore methodology is a big reason for that. “A lot of work. A lot of weights,” Dimitrov told reporters of his routine with taskmaster Rasheed. “You know, he’s a very tough but fair man at the end of the day. And I love to work. I love to give everything from myself every day.” Dimitrov has long been talented and bursting with promise, but before 2014, his career record of 4-24 against the top 10 told a story of potential yet to be kinetic. This year, with a stiffer skeleton and a more professional attitude, the Bulgarian has won four of nine against the top 10—including two against Murray—as well as notching three titles on three surfaces.
“A lot of work. A lot of weights…”
Dimitrov, always preternaturally gifted as a shotmaker, has clearly grown under Rasheed’s tutelage in the fitness category. This was a player who had developed a reputation for cramping during the 2013 season that saw him rising in the rankings but still held back by his ability to grind out long matches with the top players. His newfound fitness is the springboard to better decisionmaking on court. In short: If you can’t breathe or feel your legs after a long string of points, then the odds of choosing the right shot for the right moment dramatically decrease. In today’s tennis, with slower surfaces, longer rallies, and a gaggle of physically fit performers with a seemingly endless tolerance for suffering, it was necessary for Dimitrov to make the transition from aesthetically pleasing to physically phenomenal.
With shotmaking prowess and on-court movement that has raised eyebrows ever since he was a junior, Dimitrov is now raising eyebrows with his grit and willingness to dig deep to make the extra ball. Because he’s been willing to go the extra mile off the court, Dimitrov appears ready to compete for tennis’ most coveted prizes on it.
2014 Wimbledon Review
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