Grigor Dimitrov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Grigor Dimitrov
Григор Димитров

Dimitrov in 2023 Washington Open
Native name	Григор Димитров Димитров
Country (sports)	Bulgaria
Residence	Monte Carlo, Monaco
Born	(1991-05-16) 16 May 1991 (age 34) Haskovo, Bulgaria
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Turned pro	May 2007
Plays	Right (one-handed backhand)
Coach	Daniel Vallverdu, Jamie Delgado
Prize money	US $29,075,508  17th all-time in earnings
Singles
Career record	462–293 (61.19%) (61.3%)
Career titles	9
Highest ranking	No. 3 (20 November 2017)
Current ranking	No. 10 (4 November 2024)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	SF (2017)
French Open	QF (2024)
Wimbledon	SF (2014)
US Open	SF (2019)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	W (2017)
Olympic Games	2R (2012)
Doubles
Career record	56–77 (42.11%)
Career titles	0
Highest ranking	No. 66 (26 August 2013)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	3R (2013)
French Open	2R (2013)
Wimbledon	2R (2011, 2013)
US Open	1R (2011)
Mixed doubles
Career record	3–1 (75%)
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open	1R (2011)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	20–4
Hopman Cup	RR (2012)

Grigor Dimitrov (born May 16, 1991) is a professional tennis player from Bulgaria. He has achieved a high ranking of world No. 3 in singles. This makes him the highest-ranked Bulgarian tennis player ever. Dimitrov reached this top ranking after winning the biggest title of his career, the ATP Finals, in November 2017. He has won nine singles titles on the ATP Tour.

Before becoming a professional, Dimitrov was a very successful junior player. He was ranked world No. 1 and won two major junior titles: Wimbledon and the US Open in 2008. In 2013, he became the first Bulgarian man to win an ATP Tour singles title at the Stockholm Open. He holds the record for the longest active streak of playing in Grand Slam tournaments, with 56 appearances.

Dimitrov has also won the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year award twice, in 2014 and 2017. He was also named Balkan Athlete of the Year in 2017. In December 2024, he received the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.

Early Life and Training

Grigor Dimitrov was born in Haskovo, Bulgaria, in 1991. His father, Dimitar, was a tennis coach, and his mother, Maria, was a sports teacher and former volleyball player. Grigor first held a tennis racket when he was three years old. By age five, he was playing tennis every day. His father was his first coach.

As he got older and showed great talent, he needed more advanced training. At 16, Dimitrov became a professional tennis player. In 2007, he joined the "Sanchez-Casal" academy. Later, from 2009 to 2012, he trained at Patrick Mouratoglou's tennis academy in Paris, France.

Personal Interests

Dimitrov speaks Bulgarian and English. He enjoys sports, cars, computers, and watches. Early in his career, people nicknamed him "Baby Fed." This was because his playing style was similar to the famous tennis player Roger Federer.

Junior Tennis Career

Dimitrov won his first big junior title, the U14 European title, when he was 14. In 2006, he won the Orange Bowl U16 boys' singles. He was also named the Eddie Herr International 2007 Rising Star.

In 2007, he was a finalist at the Orange Bowl U18 boys' singles. He also reached the US Open doubles final with Vasek Pospisil.

Dimitrov as junior Wimbledon champion for 2008

In 2008, Dimitrov had a great year. He reached the quarterfinals at the French Open. He then won Wimbledon without losing a single set, even with a shoulder injury. This win earned him a special entry into the 2009 Wimbledon men's tournament. He continued his success by winning the US Open in September. After these wins, he became the junior world No. 1. He then decided to focus on his professional career.

Junior Grand Slam Results

• Australian Open: Not played
• French Open: Quarterfinals (2008)
• Wimbledon: Winner (2008)
• US Open: Winner (2008)

Professional Tennis Career

2008: First ATP Match

In 2008, Dimitrov started playing in men's tournaments. He won his first title at a smaller tournament in Barcelona. His first ATP-level match was at the Rosmalen Open. He later earned a wildcard entry into the Swiss Indoors qualifying rounds. There, he won his first ATP-level match against Jiří Vaněk.

2009: Grand Slam Debut

In 2009, Dimitrov got a wildcard to the Rotterdam Open. He surprised everyone by beating world No. 23, Tomáš Berdych, for his first main-draw win on the ATP Tour. He then faced world No. 1, Rafael Nadal, and lost in a close three-set match.

He made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon. He had to retire from his first-round match due to a knee injury. Later that year, he won his first doubles Challenger title with Teymuraz Gabashvili.

2010: First Challenger Title

Dimitrov started 2010 by trying to qualify for the Australian Open. He played for Bulgaria in the Davis Cup, winning all three of his matches.

Dimitrov in 2010

He won his first ATP Tour match of the year at the Queen's Club in London. He then had a great run at the Marburg Open, reaching the semifinals. Dimitrov won three Challenger titles in a row, including two in Bangkok. By the end of the year, he reached his best ATP ranking of No. 106.

2011: Top 100 Ranking

Dimitrov qualified for the Australian Open and reached the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time. This helped him reach a career-high ranking of world No. 85, making him the highest-ranked Bulgarian male tennis player ever.

He won the Challenger de Cherbourg title. He also became the first Bulgarian man to be seeded at an ATP World Tour tournament. At the Eastbourne International, he reached his second ATP quarterfinal. He also made history by becoming the first Bulgarian man to reach a doubles final at an ATP tournament. He finished the year ranked No. 76.

2012: First Top 10 Win

Dimitrov started 2012 at the Hopman Cup. At the Australian Open, he reached the second round.

Dimitrov at the 2012 US Open

At the Miami Open, he upset world No. 7, Tomáš Berdych. This was his first win against a top-ten player. He reached his first ATP semifinal at the Birmingham Championships. This made him the first Bulgarian male player to reach an ATP semifinal. He finished 2012 ranked world No. 48.

2013: First ATP Title

Dimitrov started 2013 by reaching his first ATP singles final at the Brisbane International. He lost to Andy Murray. This performance helped him earn over $1 million in prize money, a first for a Bulgarian male player. He became the first male Bulgarian player to rank inside the top 40.

At the Madrid Open, Dimitrov had a huge win, defeating world No. 1, Novak Djokovic. This was the biggest win of his career at that time. He reached his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Dimitrov at the 2013 Monte-Carlo Masters

He became the first Bulgarian male tennis player to be seeded at a Grand Slam tournament at the French Open. He reached the third round, a first for a Bulgarian man.

Dimitrov at Wimbledon, 2013

At the Stockholm Open, Dimitrov won his first ATP title by defeating top seed David Ferrer. This made him the first Bulgarian male player in the Open era to win such a title. He finished the year ranked 23rd in singles.

2014: Three Titles and Wimbledon Semifinal

Dimitrov had his best run at a major event at the Australian Open, reaching his first major quarterfinal. He lost to world No. 1 Rafael Nadal. This performance helped him enter the world's top 20 for the first time.

Dimitrov with the trophy at the Acapulco event

He won his first ATP 500 level tournament at the Acapulco event, defeating Kevin Anderson in the final. He then won his third ATP title and first on clay at the Bucharest event.

Dimitrov won his first title on a grass court at the Queen's Club event. At the 2014 Wimbledon Championships, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by beating defending champion Andy Murray. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinal. This great performance helped him enter the top-10 ATP rankings for the first time, at No. 9. He was the first Bulgarian male player to do so. Dimitrov was chosen as the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year in 2014.

2015: Australian Open Fourth Round

Dimitrov started 2015 by reaching the semifinals at the Brisbane event. At the Australian Open, he reached the fourth round. He also reached the quarterfinals at the Monte-Carlo Masters. He hired Franco Davín as his coach in September.

2016: Return to Form

Dimitrov reached his seventh career final in Sydney. He reached the quarterfinals at the Acapulco event. At the Miami Open, he overcame world No. 2, Andy Murray. He reached his eighth career final in the Istanbul event.

Dimitrov hired Daniel Vallverdu as his coach in June. He had a good run in Cincinnati, reaching his third career Masters semifinal. He returned to the top 30 of the ATP ranking. He reached the fourth round of the 2016 US Open. He also reached the final of the Beijing event, where he beat Rafael Nadal for the first time.

2017: Major Success and World No. 3

Dimitrov had an amazing start to 2017. He won his first ATP title in nearly three years at the Brisbane event. He then reached the semifinals of the 2017 Australian Open, losing to Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five-set match.

He won his second title of the year at the Sofia Open in his home country.

Dimitrov at the 2017 Washington Open

Dimitrov won his first Masters 1000 title at the Cincinnati tournament, winning without losing a single set. He became the first Bulgarian to qualify for the ATP Finals. He won the biggest title of his career by defeating David Goffin in the final, finishing the tournament as an undefeated champion. He ended 2017 at a career-high world No. 3.

2018: Australian Open Quarterfinal

Dimitrov started 2018 in Brisbane, reaching the semifinals. He reached his third Australian Open quarterfinal at the Australian Open. He reached the final of the Rotterdam Open. He also reached the semifinals of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Dimitrov helped Team Europe win the Laver Cup.

2019: US Open Semifinal

Dimitrov reached the last 16 of the 2019 Australian Open. He had a shoulder injury that affected his season. His ranking dropped to No. 78, his lowest in over seven years.

However, at the US Open, Dimitrov, who was unseeded, had a fantastic run. He upset third seed Roger Federer in a five-set match to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal since 2017. This was his first win against Federer in eight attempts. He then lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. As a result, his ranking jumped 53 places to world No. 25.

Dimitrov at the 2019 Rolex Paris Masters

He also reached the semifinals of the Paris Masters.

2020: French Open Fourth Round

In January, Dimitrov was captain of the Bulgarian team at the first 2020 ATP Cup. He won both his singles matches. In October, Dimitrov reached the fourth round of the French Open for the first time. He finished the year ranked world No. 19.

2021: Australian Open Quarterfinal, Indian Wells Semifinal

In February, Dimitrov reached his fourth quarterfinal at the Australian Open. He defeated third seed Dominic Thiem in the fourth round. He reached his first semifinal of the year at the 2021 San Diego Open.

At Indian Wells, Dimitrov reached the round of 16 for the first time. He then defeated world No. 2 and top seed Daniil Medvedev to reach the quarterfinals. He continued his great run by beating eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz to reach the semifinals, his first at this Masters tournament.

2022: Milestones and Masters Semifinal

Dimitrov reached the semifinals at the Melbourne Summer Set. After a win at the 2022 Delray Beach Open, Dimitrov became only the second male player born in the 1990s or later to reach 350 career wins.

Dimitrov at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters

At the Monte-Carlo Masters, he reached the semifinals. He defeated world No. 8 Andrey Rublev for his 30th top-10 win at the 2022 Erste Bank Open. He finished the year ranked world No. 28.

2023: 400th Win and Return to Top 15

Dimitrov reached the third round at the 2023 Australian Open. At the Rotterdam Open, he reached his 43rd career semifinal. He reached his first final since 2018 at the Geneva tournament. He reached the fourth round at Roland Garros for the second time.

He continued his good form at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round. He returned to the top 20 rankings. He recorded his 400th career win at the 2023 Chengdu Open, becoming the first man born in 1990 or later to reach this milestone. At Shanghai, he defeated world No. 2 and top seed Carlos Alcaraz to reach the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 event. He reached his first Masters final since 2017 at the Paris Masters, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. As a result, he returned to the top 15, at world No. 14.

2024: Career Milestones

Dimitrov started 2024 by winning his ninth title at the Brisbane tournament, his first since 2017. He reached his second final of the season in Marseille. He reached the semifinals at the Rotterdam Open.

At the 2024 Miami Open, he reached the quarterfinals of all nine active Masters events, a rare achievement. He defeated world No. 2 and top seed Carlos Alcaraz for his 40th top 10 win. He reached his third Masters final, and returned to the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2018.

With a win at the 2024 French Open, Dimitrov became the second player born in the 1990s to complete the career set of both Grand Slam and Masters 1000 quarterfinals. At the US Open, he reached the quarterfinals for the second time. He recorded his 450th career win and became the first player born in the 1990s to reach 300 hardcourt wins. He was part of the winning Team Europe at the 2024 Laver Cup. He reached his 21st ATP career final at the 2024 Stockholm Open.

2025: Brisbane Record

With his first-round win at the 2025 Brisbane International, Dimitrov became the player with the most wins in the tournament's history. He then reached the quarterfinals, marking his 25th win at the event.

Representing Bulgaria

Davis Cup

Dimitrov first played for Bulgaria in the Davis Cup in 2008 when he was 16. He helped his country get promoted to a higher division. He continued to play for Bulgaria in later years, helping them in various ties.

Olympics

Dimitrov played for Bulgaria at the 2012 London Olympics. He won his first match but lost in the second round. He also competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he lost in the first round.

Coaching History

Grigor Dimitrov has worked with several coaches throughout his career. His father, Dimitar, was his first coach. Later, he trained with Pato Alvarez. He also worked with Peter Lundgren, who had coached famous players like Roger Federer.

In 2010, he was coached by Australian pro Peter McNamara. In 2012, he trained with Patrick Mouratoglou. From 2012, he joined the Good to Great Tennis Academy in Sweden. In 2013, he hired Roger Rasheed as his coach.

From 2016, Dimitrov was coached by Daniel Vallverdu, who had previously worked with Andy Murray. Dimitrov has often said that Vallverdu helped him improve his game and mental approach. In 2021, he started working with Dante Bottini. Since October 2022, Daniel Vallverdu has been coaching Dimitrov again.

Playing Style

Dimitrov is known for his all-around playing style. He is very flexible and comfortable playing from anywhere on the court. Many people consider him one of the most talented players because of his smooth movements and amazing shots.

He has a powerful and accurate forehand, which is his main weapon. He uses it to hit fast shots and surprise opponents. Dimitrov also has a single-handed backhand. His backhand is very versatile, meaning he can hit it with different spins. John McEnroe, a famous tennis player, has even called his backhand slice the best in the game.

Dimitrov has a strong first serve, often reaching speeds of 210 km/h (130 mph) or more. His serve is important for winning key points.

One of the best parts of Dimitrov's game is his variety. He has solid groundstrokes and a great touch at the net. He often uses clever drop shots to trick his opponents. He is also very fast and athletic, often sliding to reach difficult balls. His overall play is often described as "classy" and "stylish."

Dimitrov is also known for hitting "trick shots," like hitting the ball between his legs (called a tweener). He sometimes does this for fun, even if he loses the point. Some of his trick shots have been called among the best ever.

Early in his career, he was compared to Roger Federer because of their similar playing styles, which led to the nickname "Baby Fed." Over time, Dimitrov has shown his unique style.

Equipment and Sponsors

Dimitrov uses a customized Wilson racket. He has been sponsored by Nike for his clothing and shoes for most of his career. In 2023, he became an ambassador for Lacoste. He has also had endorsement deals with companies like Rolex, Haagen Dazs, American Express, and Telenor.

Honours and Awards

• Best young tennis player in Bulgaria – 2005
• Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year – 2014, 2017
• Sports Icarus Award — 2014, 2017
• Balkan Athlete of the Year — 2017

Career statistics

Grand Slam Tournament Performance

Current through the 2024 US Open.

Year–End Championship Finals

Singles: 1 (1 title)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2017	ATP Finals, London	Hard (i)	David Goffin	7–5, 4–6, 6–3

Masters 1000 Tournaments

Singles: 3 (1 title, 2 runners-up)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2017	Cincinnati Open, United States	Hard	Nick Kyrgios	6–3, 7–5
Loss	2023	Paris Masters, France	Hard (i)	Novak Djokovic	4–6, 3–6
Loss	2024	Miami Open, United States	Hard	Jannik Sinner	3–6, 1–6

Records

Open Era Records

See also

In Spanish: Grigor Dimitrov para niños