A year ago, we thought Grigor Dimitrov was finally coming of age and was set to fulfil the promise that saw him being heralded as Roger Federer’s successor.
Before 2014, the Bulgarian had never reached beyond the third round at a grand slam tournament in 13 visits, but last year he made it to the last-eight at the Australian Open and the semis at Wimbledon, climbing into the top 10 for the first time. Between the Australian Open and Wimbledon, he collected three titles – Acapulco on hard courts, Bucharest on clay and the Queen’s Club on grass, which showed he had the ability to succeed on every surface.
It seems last year was just an illusion.
Dimitrov has slipped back to his pre-2014 days with a 19-12 record for 2015. He has given up his Acapulco and Queen’s Club titles without a fight, losing in the second round at both. A semi-final appearance at Brisbane is his best result for the season thus far.
Asked about his problems last week, Dimitrov said: “I don’t think I’m playing bad tennis at the moment. I felt I have been unlucky in the past weeks with a lot that has been going on, and it’s something that, actually, I accept and I need to fight through.”
But time is running out.
At 24, Dimitrov should be a player in his prime, somewhere close to the No 1 position his fans expect he will occupy someday.
Instead, the Bulgarian does not even look a top 10.
A few fans will point to Stan Wawrinka and say it is never too late, but then Dimitrov is not the same.
He does not have the power that “Stanimal” often employs to make the top players world look mortal.
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