Grigor Dimitrov knows all about elevating indoors.
The seventh-ranked Dimitrov played his sharpest tennis of the summer staking Team Europe to a 1-0 lead sweeping Frances Tiafoe, 6-1, 6-4, in today's Laver Cup opener in Chicago.
Federer: Interesting Dynamic With Dimitrov
"Yeah, you can say [it's my best match]," Dimitrov said. "Yeah, it was a great match today. I felt quite good. I mean, I moved well and served even better, I thought. I mean, everything is in a positive note right now. But again, it's not about me. It's about the team."
Last November, Dimitrov delivered the performance of his career inside London's O2 Arena.
The first Bulgarian qualifier in ATP Finals tournament history won all five matches he played in London, collecting 1,500 rankings points for completing an undefeated title run as well as a champion’s check of $2.549 million.
It's been a season of struggle for Dimitrov, who fell in the first round of both Wimbledon and the US Open to Stan Wawrinka.
Embracing his Laver Cup debut, Dimitrov says there's lessons to be learned from his teammates, including Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, and believes the experience can elevate him again.
"You can always learn," Dimitrov said. "I mean, just the environment itself, like, lift you up. I think being around these guys can only be a positive thing. That's it. I mean, we all go to dinners. We have lunch together. We speak before the matches. I mean, you don't seet hat very often. To me, I really embrace that. I appreciate it. Again, you never know when you're going to hear that right sentence that might trigger something big in you."
"So of course, I mean, you put your ego aside," Dimitrov said. It's hard, I know, but, I mean, when you have such a legend in the locker room and all that, and you try to, you know, constantly get better, and of course they have been very receptive and always are there for advice, which I think really adds up."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy