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Zdaję sobie sprawę, że nie jestem w dobrej formie. Moja gra nie jest taka, jakbym chciał, jest niestabilna i nadal muszę nad nią pracować - mówił Grigor Dimitrow przed rozpoczęciem turnieju ATP Masters 1000 w Rzymie.
Marcin Motyka
Marcin Motyka
16 Maja 2018, 08:20
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Getty Images / Julian Finney / Na zdjęciu: Grigor Dimitrow

ATP Rzym: David Goffin i Peter Gojowczyk zasmucili włoskich kibiców. Jack Sock przegrał z Philippem Kohlschreiberem

Miniony sezon Grigor Dimitrow zakończył w wyśniony sposób. Zwyciężył w Finałach ATP World Tour i awansował na trzecie miejsce w rankingu. Tegoroczne rozgrywki są jak na razie dla niego rozczarowujące. Od połowy lutego i finału w Rotterdamie tylko w jednym z sześciu rozegranych turniejów, w Monte Carlo, doszedł do ćwierćfinału. W pozostałych (Dubaj, Indian Wells, Miami, Barcelona, Madryt) wygrał łącznie trzy mecze.

- Choć uważam, że dobrze uderzam piłkę, wciąż mam wrażenie, że nie mogę odnaleźć swojej właściwej gry. W ostatnich dniach, po turnieju w Madrycie, pracowałem nad tym. Mam nadzieję, że udało mi się to zrobić - mówił Bułgar na konferencji prasowej przed startem turnieju Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

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- Zdaję sobie sprawę, że nie jestem w dobrej formie - przyznał. - Moja gra nie jest taka, jakbym chciał, jest niestabilna i nadal muszę nad nią pracować. Jestem w złym momencie, ale po prostu muszę się skupić na pracy i poprawie pewnych elementów.

Mimo zagubionej formy, tenisista z Chaskowa nie załamuje rąk. - Mój stan psychiczny jest całkiem dobry. Uważam, że w pewnym stopniu to, że przechodzę przez taki okres, może być dla mnie dobre. Dzięki temu mogę wiem, nad czym muszę pracować.

Występ w turnieju w Rzymie rozpocznie w środę. O godz. 12:00 zmierzy się z Keiem Nishikorim.- Jestem w Rzymie od kilku dni i miałem czas na zaadaptowanie się do warunków i kortów. Mam nadzieję, że zaprezentuję się lepiej niż w poprzednich turniejach - dodał.

ZOBACZ WIDEO #dziejesiewsporcie: przepiękny gol w A klasie

No.4 seed Dimitrov faces a tasty tussle with Troicki while Ostapenko opens her title defence on Chatrier.

Grigor Dimitrov entraînement / practice Suzanne-Lenglen Roland-Garros 2018
©Philippe Montigny / FFT
Grigor Dimitrov v Viktor Troicki
First match (11am), Court Philippe-Chatrier

A tasty Sunday hors d’oeuvre for Roland-Garros as the pair who’ve enjoyed a series of notable tussles cross swords again for the sixth time. For ATP finals champ and number four seed Dimitrov, though, there’s the alarming possibility of being the first big name to bite the red dust in 2018 against the experienced Serb campaigner.


Head to head history

The Bulgarian leads 3-2 but Troicki’s two victories in 2016 were the most memorable - a tiebreak-deciding win (9-7) in the final in Sydney (the Serb’s last tournament triumph) after staving off a championship point followed by a fightback from two sets to one down to prevail in their first round match here at Roland-Garros. Last year, though, in their most recent meeting, Dimitrov prevailed comfortably in his home tournament in Sofia.

Form coming in

Troicki’s had a fairly lean time, having won three and lost four in his clay-court campaign and being forced to withdraw from the Italian Open with injury before the second round. Dimitrov, on a three-match losing streak, is not faring much better, though, after his landmark 2017 campaign, admitting “I haven't found my game right now” although he looked as if he may chance upon it in his closely-fought three-setter against Kei Nishikori in Rome.

Roland-Garros history

Dimitrov’s four first-round exits in seven French Opens says it all about his ongoing struggles here and he’s never gone as far as Troicki, who’s made the last-16 on three occasions.

Tactical duel

With one of the most volatile temperaments on tour, Troicki’s explosive nature can work to his advantage if he channels it constructively, unsettling the nervous Dimitrov. The Bulgarian’s single-handed backhand is most exposed on clay, and Troicki will aim to drag him wide on that wing and keep him off-balance on his least-favoured surface.

Roland-Garros 2018, Grigor Dimitrov, entraînement, practice
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT
Jelena Ostapenko v Kateryna Kozlova
Fourth match, Court Philippe-Chatrier

It’s going to feel oh so different for Latvia’s champion this year. In 2017, she was an unheralded teenage hopeful without seemingly a care in the world as she blitzed to a maiden tournament victory in a hail of unstoppable winners. Now, at 20, she returns with a smile but also with the acknowledgment that “I’m under pressure this time” as she opens her defence against the world No.66 Kozlova. It’s not just the expectation that weighs more heavily; her 24-year-old Ukrainian opponent can boast a victory against Ostapenko in their only previous meeting. Okay, it was on the grass in S-Hertogenbosch and Ostapenko was hardly the player she is now but it still serves as a serious warning.

Ostapenko Kozlova 1er tour Roland-Garros 2018 1st round
Ground-pass gold: Francesca Schiavone v Viktoria Kuzmova
Third match, Court 3

For those seeking a cracking attraction on the outside courts, then look no further that the ever-popular Schiavone’s contest with Slovakian Kuzmova. The veteran Italian has delighted the crowds at the qualifiers this past week, winning her first three matches of the entire year after a troublesome time with injuries. Yet now she can remember why her decision to carry on this season after flirting with retirement was the right one. On a roll again with that single-handed backhand flowing, the old ‘Lioness’ will be out to teach a lesson to the promising young cub Kuzmova, who at 20 has just picked up the biggest title of her fledgling career at the ITF $100,000 event in Trnava. After that tussle, the Court 3 fans might fancy hanging around to see Federico Delbonis and Thomaz Bellucci in an enjoyable-looking Argentina v Brazil dust-up.

Bulgarian defeats lucky loser Safwat in straight sets

Grigor Dimitrov adapted well to the challenge of facing a late replacement in the draw on Sunday, beating lucky loser Mohamed Safwat 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(1) to reach the second round at Roland Garros.

Dimitrov had prepared to face Viktor Troicki in the opening match of the tournament on Philippe-Chatrier Court before the Serb withdrew with lower back pain, handing Egypt’s Safwat a place in the main draw. Safwat, the first Egyptian man to compete at a Grand Slam since Tamer El Sawy at the 1996 US Open, handled the occasion well, testing the World No. 5 after a slow start.

The fourth seed hit 31 winners and won 88 per cent of first-serve points to snap a three-match losing streak after just over two hours. Dimitrov entered Roland Garros after opening-match losses at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Madrid (l. to Raonic) and Rome (l. to Nishikori).

Dimitrov awaits the winner of the first-round encounter between Chile’s Nicolas Jarry and Jared Donaldson. Dimitrov is yet to meet either player on the ATP World Tour.

Dimitrov controlled the opening set from the baseline, hitting with greater power than his opponent off both wings to take a one-set lead after 22 minutes. The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion dropped just eight points in the opener, taking charge of important points on his forehand side to outmanoeuvre the lucky loser.

The second set appeared to be following the same pattern, with Dimitrov, once again, using his forehand to great effect to secure an early break. But Safwat rallied, after taking a medical time-out at a set and 4-1 down, to come to within a point of levelling proceedings at 4-4. Dimitrov saved break point, taking the initiative with a strong forehand before finishing at the net, to maintain his advantage before sealing the set with a composed hold to love two games later.

The Egyptian carried his improved level into the third set, bravely saving break points at 3-3 and 4-4 to keep pace with Dimitrov before reaching a tie-break. At that point, Dimitrov rediscovered his first-set form, dominating with the forehand to race to the finish line.

Did You Know?
Grigor Dimitrov is now one victory away from his 50th Grand Slam match win (49-30). The 27-year-old has won 20 matches at the Australian Open (20-8), six at Roland Garros (6-7), 15 at The Championships (15-8) and eight at the US Open (8-7).

2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion matches his best showing at Roland Garros
Grigor Dimitrov might not have had the clay-court season he had envisioned before Roland Garros – the Bulgarian reached just one semi-final, at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. But the fourth seed has fought his way through the early rounds in Paris.

Dimitrov withstood an aggressive effort from American Jared Donaldson on Wednesday, coming back from two sets to one down to beat the 21-year-old 6-7(2), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 in four hours and 20 minutes. The Bulgarian served from behind in the fifth set, but kept his focus as Donaldson struggled with cramps and took his chances while returning.


Dimitrov reaches the Round of 32 for the third time in Paris, matching his best showing (2013, l. Djokovic; 2017, l. Carreno Busta). Dimitrov also celebrates Grand Slam match win No. 50. He'll go for his first fourth round in Paris against Fernando Verdasco.

The Spaniard spent four hours and 22 minutes on the court during his first-round match, beating Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-5. But on Wednesday, the 34-year-old Verdasco took the quick route to the Round of 32, sweeping Guido Andreozzi of Argentina 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours. Verdasco will try to reach the Round of 16 for the second consecutive year and the seventh time overall (2007-10, '14, '17).


Donaldson, a 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier, had never won a match at Roland Garros before this fortnight, having lost on his debut last year (Herbert). He had been 0-3 against Top 5 opponents as well.

But aggressive returning and attacking tennis had given him a two-sets-to-one lead as he rifled returns at Dimitrov's feet. Donaldson won 73 per cent of Dimitrov's second-serve points in the third set.

But Dimitrov earned the early break in the fourth – the only break point of the set – when Donaldson hit a forehand long, and the Bulgarian sailed the rest of the way to force a decider.

Dimitrov had played four times as many five-setters as Donaldson (12 to 3). But Donaldson had won his first five-set match on Sunday against Brasil Open finalist Nicolas Jarry, and the American didn't fade.

Read More: Donaldson, A Future Investment Banker?

He was two points from the match – leading 6-5, 30/0 against Dimitrov's serve – but the Bulgarian won four straight points to tie it up again. Cramping soon hampered Donaldson.

At 6-6, 40/30, the American, reminiscent of countryman Michael Chang against Ivan Lendl in the 1989 Roland Garros fourth round, underarmed his serve to Dimitrov. It worked – Dimitrov sailed the return long – and Donaldson, struggling to push off his left leg, saw the trainer.

He had spurts of good play, but he couldn't sustain them during the final stretch. Dimitrov served for the match at 8-7, and Donaldson broke back. But Dimitrov then won the final two games, clinching the second-round match with a hold to love.

Bulgarian leaves Paris with a 7-5 record on the 2018 clay swing
World No. 5 Grigor Dimitrov says he will take time off to reassess his form, following a third-round exit at Roland Garros on Friday.
“I definitely need to take some time off now to kind of reassess the whole clay-court season, to be honest,” said Dimitrov, after his 7-6(4), 6-2, 6-4 loss to Fernando Verdasco. “I think that's going to be the No. 1 priority for me now, to kind of step out from tennis for a little bit, [and] try to watch some matches and sort of try to progress somehow. Just get better.
“I have always been a positive thinker, and I want to keep that on the same level right now.”
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The Bulgarian, who finished the 2017 on a high with the Nitto ATP Finals trophy, has compiled an 18-11 record this season. He ends the European clay-court swing with a 7-5 mark.
“I really expected to play better on clay,” admitted Dimitrov. "Throughout the last matches I played, even in the Madrid, Rome, Paris, all matches, I had everything to win. So absolutely, it’s my fault.
“I need to reassess that a little bit more. Every year I pretty much play well on the clay, but never good enough to have a better result [here in Paris]. Unfortunately, that's the current situation. I don't want to get too down on myself, because it is what it is.
“You have to draw the line and look for the next chapter. Also, in tennis you never know, one week can always turn things around for you. It's been proven to work in the past.”
The 26-year-old has never progressed beyond the third round (2013, 2017-18), or beaten a player in the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings, in eight visits to the clay-court Grand Slam championship in Paris (7-8 record). “Unfortunately, I have to continually stop here, [at] the same time.”

Muszę postawić kropkę i rozpocząć nowy rozdział - powiedział Grigor Dimitrow o swoich występach w sezonie gry na mączce. Ten okres, zwieńczony porażką z Fernando Verdasco w III rundzie Roland Garros 2018, był dla niego kompletnie nieudany.
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Mundial 2018: newsy, wideo, zdjęcia, ciekawostki, quizy i wiele więcej. Sprawdź serwis na MŚ!




Roland Garros: Alexander Zverev uciekł spod topora. Grigor Dimitrow poza turniejem
W III rundzie Roland Garros 2018, Grigor Dimitrow przegrał 6:7(4), 3:6, 4:6 z Fernando Verdasco. - Wiedziałem, że to będzie trudny mecz. Szkoda, bo pod względem fizycznym czułem się dobrze, ale po przegraniu pierwszego seta zrobiłem się nerwowy. Próbowałem, ale nie udało mi się odwrócić losów pojedynku - mówił na konferencji prasowej.
Dla Bułgara był to ósmy w karierze start w Paryżu. - Każdego roku mam wrażenie, że gram dobrze, ale nigdy nie udało mi się tu przejść III rundy - stwierdził tenisista z Chaskowa, który na kortach Rolanda Garrosa nigdy nie pokonał rywala z czołowej "50" rankingu ATP.


Piątkowy mecz był dla Dimitrowa zwieńczeniem sezonu gry na kortach ziemnych. Okresu, który był dla niego totalnie nieudany. Na ceglanej mączce wygrał tylko siedem z 12 rozegranych spotkań, a najlepszy wynik zanotował w Monte Carlo, gdzie dotarł do półfinału. Później było tylko gorzej. W Barcelonie odpadł w ćwierćfinale, a w Madrycie i w Rzymie przegrywał inauguracyjne spotkania.

- Spodziewałem się, że będę grał lepiej - przyznał. - W ostatnich meczach, jakie rozegrałem, również tych w Madrycie i w Rzymie, miałem wszystko, aby wygrać. Dlatego fakt, że tak wyglądają moje wyniki, to wyłącznie moja wina.

- Zwykle staram się myśleć pozytywnie, ale muszę poświęcić trochę czasu na analizę moich występów na mączce. Muszę też postawić kropkę i rozpocząć nowy rozdział. W tenisie nigdy nie wiesz, kiedy coś odmieni. Zmianę może przynieść każdy tydzień - dodał.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis examines second serves in the Deuce court by the Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings
Deuce court. Second serve. Right-handed opponent.

You bounce the ball a couple of times and plan on serving to the backhand, like always. But as the match progresses you notice as you toss the ball that the returner is sometimes sneaking to their left to upgrade to a more potent forehand return.

You contemplate serving out wide to catch them sliding over, but you wonder if you are playing with fire. Is it too risky to direct a second serve wide to the forehand?

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of the current Top 10 players in the ATP Rankings uncovers that, on average, the Top 10 directs their second serve wide in the Deuce court just 15 per cent of the time. It’s not a lot, but the surprise factor helps deliver the highest second-serve success rate of any location in the Deuce-court service box.

The message is clear. You can surprise to an opponent’s strength, but don’t overdo it. The most popular location for second serves in the Deuce court for the Top 10 is in the third of the court closest to the T, followed by in the middle, right at the body.

Current Top 10: Deuce Court Second Serves Hit (Service Box Evenly Cut Into Thirds)

Location Frequency
T 56%
Body 29%
Wide 15%The data set comes from ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events from 2011-2018 & the Nitto ATP Finals.
Grigor Dimitrov, currently ranked No. 5, enjoys the highest winning percentage (71.3%) hitting second serves out wide in the Deuce court of any Top 10 player.

Current Top 10: Deuce Court Second-Serve Winning Percentage by Location

Player

T

Body

Wide

Grigor Dimitrov

58.0%

59.8%

71.3%

Juan Martin del Potro

58.7%

52.0%

69.6%

Rafael Nadal

60.9%

60.4%

68.0%

John Isner

59.5%

60.6%

67.7%

Kevin Anderson

56.7%

54.5%

65.5%

Alexander Zverev

64.1%

59.2%

65.3%

Roger Federer

60.1%

59.9%

64.6%

Dominic Thiem

57.9%

50.8%

58.8%

Marin Cilic

55.9%

55.2%

58.4%

David Goffin

53.5%

59.0%

56.6%

AVERAGE

58.6%

58.1%

64.2%

Interestingly, nine members of the Top 10 enjoy their highest second-serve winning percentage with the mix-up out wide to the right-handers' forehand return. David Goffin was the only exception, winning more second-serve points jamming at the body in the Deuce court.

These analytics help us learn about subtle strategies in our sport, which wash right down to the recreational and junior levels. The vast majority of second serves should be directed at the body and backhand, but if the timing is right, mixing out wide to the forehand is a smart strategy.

Grigor Dimitrov appeared to break through in 2017, claiming his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati before lifting the trophy at the Nitto ATP Finals to finish the season at a career-best No. 3 in the ATP Rankings.

But the Bulgarian has struggled to find his top form in 2018, reaching just one final in Rotterdam, and carrying a 19-12 record into Wimbledon, where he advanced to the semi-finals in 2014. It didn’t get better for the 27-year-old at the All England Club, as the sixth seed served for a two-sets-to-one lead before ultimately losing to three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka in four sets.

“There's no reason to panic or anything. I'm not that type of a person anyway. I'll try to remain positive because I know that's one of the toughest things, especially when you exit early in the tournament,” Dimitrov said. “You have to stay positive, simple as that. You can't just go down on yourself.”


Sure, it was not an easy draw for Dimitrov. Wawrinka has also climbed as high as World No. 3 and he now owns 51 victories against opponents inside the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings, tied for 19th all-time. That’s little consolation to the Bulgarian, though.

“It's hard for me to just accept losing, period,” Dimitrov said. “Especially at an event like this that I've done so well at in the past. I've beaten big names on that Centre Court, played tough matches against big players. It's kind of at the same time a tough pill to swallow. Again, in order to get to the trophy, you need to win seven matches.”

Dimitrov admits that he put himself in a position to win on Monday, but just could not close it out. The World No. 6 felt good during practice throughout the past week. If he finished off the third set, perhaps the outcome would have been different. A few small footwork mistakes and a few unforced errors might have made all the difference. And now, instead of preparing for a second-round match, Dimitrov is left thinking of the bigger picture.


“I always want more for myself. Maybe this is what the body can take right now. I think it's very tough when you reach a certain level and you want to go forward, but there's the last, like, two, three per cent that are the toughest ones,” Dimitrov said. “Each year you're growing, growing. You're [World No.] 3. What is the next step? Wow, I can be No. 1. For me, those are the steps that are going to make the biggest difference.

“There's an accumulation of a lot of matches, beating up on the body, especially on the mental side. I mean, considering how many matches I had to fight through and come back from a set down on many occasions. Yeah, I mean, part of it could be, to be honest. But in order to be the best, that's what you need to be doing every single year.”

Dimitrov did not expect his ascent to be easy, even after the best year of his career in 2017. Everybody faces adversity. And the loss against Wawrinka — he said ‘even in my wildest dreams I haven't dreamed of losing first round’ — stings. But now, it’s about looking ahead, regrouping, and beginning to work toward top form again.



“It's a bumpy road, simple as that. For sure I'm not happy to lose first round in Wimbledon. I don't remember when was the last time that happened to me,” Dimitrov said. “It's still a bit of a shock to me. I need to accept it, I guess. I don't know what I will do now. I think one of the best things in a way is, I'm trying to find the silver lining, is that I can take some time off, really put the racquet aside now for plenty of time, if I have to be honest.

“A little break, I think, couldn't hurt anyone. The most important thing is, as I said, which is one of the toughest things, to remain positive. That is absolutely the toughest task. Knowing you're out, watching the matches on TV is not going to be easy. If it was easy, that wouldn't be tennis.”

Bulgarian No. 5 seed keeps focus on the big picture in return to Toronto
Big things were expected of Grigor Dimitrov this season after he broke through to claim the Nitto ATP Finals in 2017. Expectations were nothing new for the gifted Bulgarian.

He has been grappling with them all his tennis life. But after arriving Down Under at a career-high No. 3 in the ATP Rankings in January, 2018 hasn’t quite lived up to Dimitrov’s own expectations.

It was during a four-year stint working with Patrick Mouratoglou that Dimitrov was warned talent was dangerous as it made an athlete think they could succeed without working.

“I just think talent helps you win matches sometimes, but it’s very different,” the No. 5 seed said ahead of his Rogers Cup campaign in Toronto on Sunday. “Sometimes when you have too many things in your bag it’s always hard.

“I never look at myself through that side to be honest. Yes, maybe I’m talented but talent doesn’t necessarily win matches. It helps you, but it doesn’t win matches.

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“If it does you might win two, three, four matches but that’s it. If you want to be a Grand Slam champion, if you want to be No. 1, there are so many other things you need to be doing in order to get to that point. Of course it adds up to the occasion but (talent) is not the ultimate goal.”

On top of his biggest career title at the O2 Arena in November, Dimitrov had also landed his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last August. With big points to defend in the second half of the season it makes this US hard-court stretch crucial for the 28-year-old.

“It depends on what you’re focusing on,” Dimitrov said. “I’ve never been the type of player that likes to focus on prize money, points, things like that.

“I like to always see the positives. I know it was tough losing that first round (to Stan Wawrinka) at Wimbledon but at the same time I need to take the positives out of that negative situation. I know one of the hardest things in tennis is to stay positive after a loss.

“Every match is very important for me right now. I’m not trying to get back to No. 2, 3, 4, whatever it is. I’m really focused on the big picture and the things I want to get better at.

“Sometimes one, two, three matches it can really turn it around for you again. If you stay compact, stay smart and do the right things you just never known when the tables might turn for you.”