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Biofile: The Grigor Dimitrov Interview
32 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
By Scoop Malinowski
(Note: I did this Biofile with the newly crowned Queens Club champion Grigor Dimitrov back when he was just eighteen, moments after his 2009 US Open first round qualifying win over Tobias Kamke 64 64.)
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 170
DOB: May l6, 1991 In: Haskovo, Bulgaria
First Tennis Memory: “First tennis memory…okay, I was holding my small racquet and I was on the wall. This is what I just remember. Hitting the ball. And actually that’s all I remember for my first memory [smiles]. I was three.”
Tennis Inspirations: “I have a lot actually. You know I like Roger Federer, for sure, the best. Marat Safin also when I was a kid. I really loved Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi. All these players were unbelievable for me. And I just try to do something like that.”
Nicknames: “I have a lot. I don’t know which ones to say. You’re better to ask other people, I have a lot, so. (Just a couple?) The Dynamite Kid [laughs]. (Another?) G-Force [smiles].”
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to play volleyball, all kinds of sports actually…soccer, American football mostly. (What position?) Quarterback [smiles].”
Last Book Read: “The Notebook.”
Favorite TV Show: “That’s a good one. I don’t know to tell you the truth. I like Friends.”
Favorite Movies: “I like comedy romance, action a lot also. My favorite – The Notebook.”
Favorite Meal: “Definitely steaks.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Lemon is my favorite.”
Pre-Match Feeling: “I’m basically almost every time relaxed so I have time to think for a match and whatever I can do I just go outside and play.”
Childhood Dream: “Always wanted to be a tennis player. This was always my goal. Whatever was happening I just wanted to do it.”
Greatest Sports Moment So Far: “Winning the European Championships, the under fourteen. (Why?) Because that was a key actually for my career so far. I beat in the final a Czech guy. It’s a memory that always comes to my mind.”
Most Painful Moment: “Losing against Rafa [laughs]. I lost third set against him a couple of months ago (in Rotterdam). I was very disappointed but hopefully…”
Which Match(es) Were You At Your Best: “Well, actually Wimbledon probably quarters last year. Against American guy. I was just making every shot, every shot, whatever I wanted I was making. That’s for sure.”
Favorite Tournaments: “I like really U.S. Open and Wimbledon.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Hmm. Good question. My coach for sure. I like Feliciano Lopez is very nice.”
Funniest Player Encountered: “Oh, Tursunov, definitely [laughs].”
Toughest Competitor Encountered: “For sure, Rafa.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “Once when I was serving, I hit my partner. That was funny. Straight in the ass. Long time ago.”
Favorite Sport To Watch Outside Tennis: “Hmmm, basketball.”
Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Definitely I like to watch a lot of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, all the NBA players. Tom Brady, New England quarterback. I like to play soccer but not to watch.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I like them to be honest and to have a sense of humor, definitely.”
Bulgaria · G-Force · Grigor Dimitrov · Lacoste · Super G · Wilson
Hans Landa · June 17, 2014 at 9:50 am
this guy is definitely a bit of a ham. still needs to mature a bit before making a mark at W. i’d say QF this year with a bit of luck.
Scoop Malinowski · June 17, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Have seen G Force play many times and don’t agree with your calling him a ham. He’s pretty serious, intense and colorful competitor, really wants it now. I like his fire, it’s natural and it reflects his desire and passion and hunger to achieve big things in the sport. The only players I’d call a ham – and it’s in a good way – is Monfils and maybe Gimelstob with his dramatic diving. Dimitrov is a showman too but in a different way.
Andrew Miller · June 17, 2014 at 6:12 pm
Needs a big win at w. Rd 16 if he makes it.
Hans Landa · June 18, 2014 at 9:30 am
scoop, no doubt monfils and gimelstob are / were big time hams but dimi’s not as obvious but he’s right up there. 🙂
regardless, i’d like to see primetime go higher and give choko a run for his money. my favourites to win W are as follows : nadal, fed, murray, choko..
Scoop Malinowski · June 18, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Hans, can you share any examples of Dimitrov’s hamming it up? Talking about hams, Jankovic used to be a classic but she’s reigned it in. Petkodance and Wozniacki like to ham it up. I think tennis needs more hams.
Andrew Miller · June 18, 2014 at 3:44 pm
If dimitrov is confidant maybe he can. He will have to earn it.
Andrew Miller · June 18, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Who knows. The favorites are favorites but wimbledon is a special tournanent. Bartoli came from nowhere. This could happen on mens side. If dimitrov wins you wonder if its serous or safin ous.
gans · June 19, 2014 at 2:52 am
Did anyone watch F . Lopez play? He was extremely good and effective at the net. But it is quite odd that he slices his Bh 100% of the time. I bet a young Pete Sampras would win Wimbledon quite easily against the current generation.
I miss you Pete!
Cheers from Germany!
Dan Markowitz · June 19, 2014 at 7:25 am
I agree with you , Gans. A prime Pete would wipe the courts–even these slower grass ones–with the current crop of players. Lopez would have big time trouble winning a set off Pete. What I find alarming about today’s game is you have players like Bagdhatisvsaying the game and the players are “boring” and if they retired today they wouldn’t watch the matches on TV. I think there’s a problem when you hear a statement like that from a current player. It doesn’t bode well for the game. Baggy is saying the players have taken professionalism too far and taken the color out of the game. There are few characters or distinctive personalities anymore.
Scoop Malinowski · June 19, 2014 at 10:12 am
Young Pete would be very hard to beat on grass but I can easily see Rafa’s passing shots and returns just whizzing by his ears all day long. For one match on grass, my money’s on Rafa over Pete. But then again maybe it’s been too long since I’ve seen a video of Prime Pete on grass and I’m not appreciating his Wimbledon mastery as much as is deserved. But I like Rafa a lot, he figures out the way to beat everyone on any major surface.
Scoop Malinowski · June 19, 2014 at 10:14 am
Bag’s comments are interesting. A lot of players are saying the same thing. Benjamin Becker just told me in a Biofile that it’s becoming too serious which is sad. Even Stepanek has toned down the theatrics and he hasn’t done his worm dance in a while. Djokovic tried to be a court jester with his imitation routine but most all the players and fans ganged up on him and killed him with criticism.
Andrew Miller · June 19, 2014 at 10:27 am
Bag should come back then and prove it. If he doesnt like passing shots and the drama of tennis he can always fall back on recreational ping pong or wi fii.
Andrew Miller · June 19, 2014 at 10:31 am
Or watch womens.tennis. halep bouchard maybe even the gambler giorgi and others like duval etc are bringing some fun back . Given bag married a wta player the least he could do is give props to a tour that is going to soon be the story in tennis especially if grigor and gulbis and le monf keep realizing everything but their potential!
Andrew Miller · June 19, 2014 at 10:33 am
(Let alone the story of our u.s. boys. But that story to me is a good one – the comeback is slow but it is taking place ! )
Mitch · June 19, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Djokovic just withdrew from a pre-Wimbledon exhibition; there’s speculation that his wrist might be bothering him again.
Scoop Malinowski · June 19, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Wrist wasn’t bothering him in FO final, so it seems hard to digest.
Scoop Malinowski · June 19, 2014 at 12:40 pm
Tennis is so darn competitive now, it requires such a grueling rigorous physical and mental exertion to even win a single POINT, there’s just no time for goofballing around. It’s funny, you only hear the lower ranked players complaining about the lack of characters and fun in the sport.
Andrew Miller · June 19, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Exactly. If those players want to bring tennis something different then by all means do it. I think there is a role for tennis promoters – gettings bts in seats – but players should.up their game if they want a seat at the table. Prove you can beat someone with something innovative like rios or jamie hampton
Scoop Malinowski · June 19, 2014 at 3:08 pm
I think Lopez game on grass is underrated. In one way he’s achieved something better than Fed at Wimbledon. As far as “debuts” are concerned. Fed lost first round in his first two Wimbledons, Lopez made the 4th round in his first Wimbledon, saving a MP and then six MPs in early rounds before finally losing to Andre Sa in the fourth. So Lopez’s Wimbledon debut was far more impressive than Federer’s. If that counts for anything. So though Lopez has not been able to recreate much magic at Wimbledon, he is capable of magic there.
Mitch · June 19, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Lopez also has a win over Nadal at Halle, though that doesn’t really count for much.
Scoop Malinowski · June 19, 2014 at 9:59 pm
Harrison Sock or Johnson could beat Rafa in Halle Mitch. BTW, good job on Harrison and Kudla qualifying for Wimbledon. Also Larcher De Brito too. But maybe the best quali story is the Japanese Sugita who quailed for Wimbledon, I think it’s his first major main draw after over a dozen previous quali failures.
gans · June 20, 2014 at 12:47 am
People underestimate Pete ‘ s game and overestimate modern players’ passing shots. There is no one to challenge Rafa and others with huge serves and great net game.
Once in a while, Rafa will hit his signature passing shots, but unlike Federer, Pete isn’t backing off. He will keep coming in. Rafa won’t be able to break him, whereas Pete has a great chance. Remember- Pete ‘ s second serve than most players’ first serve. Pete in his prime, would be the best. What Tsonga did to Nadal in 2008 AO, Sampras will do every time.
The sport doesn’t need colorful characters. It needs players with different style. Today, the sport has become monotonous. Pete’s in his prime had such a huge game- relentless attack and pressure. He is the Garry Kangaroo of chess. Rafa and uncle Tony can scratch their head as much as they want, but there will be no solution. Unlike, Federer, Pete will bring his A game as the competition gets tougher.
Cheers!
gans · June 20, 2014 at 1:10 am
Sorry, not Garry Kangaroo, I meant Garry Kasparov!
tom michael · June 20, 2014 at 7:05 am
Sampras would have no chance against Nadal on any outdoor surface, including grass, especially if HawkEye is used. Sampras would need bad line calls in his favor to beat Nadal. He also has poor endurance, and Rafa will pummel Pete’s backhand (which is inferior to Roger’s) all day. Sampras is no Gary Kasparov. He lacks a career grand slam. He is more likely a Gary Kangaroo.
Scoop Malinowski · June 20, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Gans, much respect to Pistol Pete, he was the king of his era but can’t you just see Pete’s backhand just taking a beating from Nadal’s forehand? I rate Federer’s backhand better than Pete’s and look at what Rafa did to that.
Mitch · June 20, 2014 at 2:09 pm
Forgive my ignorance, but I didn’t really start following tennis until after Pete’s retirement. I understand that he’s not chopped liver, but if he was that good, how come he didn’t have a dominant year like Fed, Nadal, and Djokovic have had? Or did he?
Scoop Malinowski · June 20, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Mitch, Sampras was number one for six straight years. He concentrated mostly on winning majors not Masters Series or Davis Cups. It was all about majors. We may never see another player be year end number one for six straight years ever again. Remarkable achievement and one of Pete’s prime legacy points. Pete’s game prospered and played best on grass especially on Center Court at Wimbledon. Said Pete in my Facing Hewitt book: “It’s always difficult winning Slams. I’ve been fortunate to have won as many as I have, I think I’ve proven this week (after loss to Hewitt at US Open final) that I can still win Slams. There’s no question in my mind. There’s always going to be younger, stronger, quicker players in all sports. As you get older, it gets more difficult. But my game is still there. Unfortunately, I just ran into two players, one in Safin last year, and Hewitt this year, that played about as well as they played throughout the whole tournament. They just saved it for me.”
Andrew Miller · June 20, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Pete would b fine. Flopez in a grass final won two matches in 1 day i guess. Just no emotion. He has to use it or lose it (or in this case lose it or lose the match).
gans · June 21, 2014 at 9:32 am
Tom, had there been Hawk eye, Pete would have won more slams, not less. You must be an Agassi fan- still nursing all those beatings at the hands of pistol Pete.
Scoop, maybe u didn’t watch the 2008 aussie open semis. Tsonga took Nadal apart quite easily. Maybe u also forgot that Nadal was beat by Rosol and Darcis too. Pete will be a difficult player for Nadal. Even a great returner like Andre was dominated by Pete. How is Nadal going to break Sampras?
Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray will have so much trouble against Sampras in his prime.
Cheers!
gans · June 21, 2014 at 9:43 am
Pete plays the the type of tennis that Rosol played- only better.
Pete didn’t do well in French probably because off thalassemia and managing priorities.
Cheers!
tom michael · June 21, 2014 at 11:45 pm
No I am not a fan of Agassi or Sampras. I actually preferred that Sampras beat Agassi, especially the start of all beatings at the 1990 US Open final.
Nadal would have no trouble returning Pete’s serve because he is the greatest athlete in tennis history and he would leap and lunge after it and get it back in play. He is overall a better returner than Agassi because he does not get aced much.
Pete’s Beta-Thallasemia minor is not an excuse for his failure to win the French. He was not good enough from the baseline. Clay takes away the serve. His nonserving skills are questionable and therefore he could not win the French.
Pete never won three majors in one season.
Rafa lost to Tsonga, Darcis, and Rosol. Sampras lost to Bastl (who never won a tournament on the tour), Ysaga at the US Open, and even Kucera in Australia.
Sampras would do poorly with HawkEye. He used to stare down linespeople to get calls. HawkEye would reverse many of them. He would have lost the 1996 quarterfinal against Corretja if HawkEye existed.
Scoop Malinowski · June 22, 2014 at 7:05 am
Not fair to take Rafa’s worst matches and match that Rafa vs. Pete at his best. You match Rafa at his best vs. Pete at his best, not Pete vs. Bastl or Krajicek. Rafa at his best has the game, the mentality, the fight, the skills, the weapons, the speed, to be Pete’s worst nightmare on any surface. Pete’s backhand was a real liability and you just know Rafa would have zeroed in on and broke down that backhand which is not even as good as Roger’s. Yes Pete has a great serve one of the best ever but when have we ever seen Rafa struggle mightily with anyone’s serve? And there are some great servers out there today.