“My mom always used to say before being a great champion is be a great person” – Grigor Dimitrov on the ‘pressure’ he faces as a tennis player

Despite falling to Jannik Sinner in the final, Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov had a highly successful week at the Miami Open, a Masters 1000 tournament. His performance not only earned him a spot in the final, but also allowed him to reenter the top 10 of the ATP rankings, making it one of the best weeks of his career.

At his press conference following his defeat to Sinner with a score of 3-6, 1-6, Dimitrov discussed the pressure he experiences as a tennis player. He emphasized the importance of consistency, stating that it was a key focus during his comeback. Dimitrov also mentioned taking on the role of both critic and teacher to push himself to reach his full potential.

“I think for me it’s about being consistent. For example, that’s the one thing that I have been really focused on, how I’m going to prepare, how I’m going to put myself in the best situation to get out there and play my best, but along the way enjoy. Because also, you’re your own critic, you’re your own best friend, and you’re your own, you know, teacher at times for things,”Grigor Dimitrov said.

“I, for one, also want to thank myself for the work that I have been putting in, for the discipline, for the hard hours that I have been, doing for the heartaches, for the pain, for everything that we’re going through behind the scenes,”he added.

The 32-year-old believed it was crucial for him to recognize both the effort he has devoted behind the scenes and the challenges he has faced throughout his journey, as he feels it has helped him become a stronger individual.

Despite the material pressures of the tennis world, Grigor Dimitrov has always remembered the advice his mother gave him – that being a great person is more important than being a great champion. This belief has stayed with him over the years and has made him immune to the materialistic aspects of the sport, focusing instead on following his own path and running his own race. As a result, the former World No. 3 remains grounded and true to himself.

“You need to also acknowledge those things. You need to embrace them as well. You need to cherish them. I also think those things are making you a better person. My mom always used to say before being a great champion is be a great person. This is the thing I have always focused on since I was a kid,”Grigor Dimitrov said.

“I think at some point all the trophies and all that, it kind of paled in comparison to what else is. I think at the moment, all of us that we’re playing tennis out there, living our dream. So it’s a little window of our life, and I think after that it’s going to be different. That’s why I feel like right now I’m in a very interesting path. That’s what I’m saying, I’m running my own race,”he added.

“The Importance of Individual Goals in Professional Sports”

According to Grigor Dimitrov, each player must handle their own unique pressures, as they will have individual goals to achieve by the end of the day.

The Bulgarian stressed that each player has their own interpretation of competing and playing in specific tournaments, which subsequently influences their actions and choices during that time.

“I think each one is very different. I really don’t know how to answer that too well. More on that, I think it’s just I think each player has his own goals, targets, long-term goals, short-term goals. I think each player tries to find their own way to feel ready to compete,”Grigor Dimitrov continued in his press conference.

“It’s just simple as that and then what it actually means to you, what it means to you to compete, what it means to play at certain tournaments, what are certain wins means to you. So it’s very personal,”he added.