By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, June 27, 2016
"Honestly, I don't fear anyone. I have beaten I think top players and in big tournaments," Dimitrov said after snapping his six-match losing streak
Photo credit: AP
It's been a season of loss for Grigor Dimitrov.
The former world No. 8 lost his confidence, lost his place in the Top 20, and even temporarily lost his mind in a racquet-smashing meltdown after blowing a one-set, 5-3 lead against Diego Schwartzman in the Istanbul final last month.
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After enduring all of those setbacks, Dimitrov experienced one of his most profound losses today: He lost his six-match losing streak.
Finally stalling his downward spiral, Dimitrov defeated American Bjorn Fratangelo, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the Wimbledon second round for the sixth straight year.
The 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist scored his first victory since April when he edged Ivo Karlovic in the Istanbul semifinals.
"Of course I'm aware (of the losing streak)," Dimitrov said. "But as I said, this should not discourage you. It's not the end of the world. It's just a tennis match. But in the same time, you're like, Okay, what did I do wrong?
"Obviously when something is not going the way that it should, I mean, then of course all of a sudden everyone starts talking. Oh, the guy is like losing first rounds and this and that. I mean, everyone has periods in their career and I think in their life that things are a little bit uncertain and they are struggling a little bit."
In the aftermath of his Istanbul implosion, Dimitrov lost three of his next five matches in straight sets skidding through a miserable clay-court season and looking lost on court at times.
The former Queen's Club champion fell to No. 553 Janko Tipsarevic match at Queen's Club earlier this month, but believes past success on grass can be a launching pad for his comeback.
"When I finished my last tournament on clay I was like, Oh, God. Thank God," Dimitrov said. "In the same time I love grass. I mean, I remember the first time I came here I didn't barely hit a ball on grass, and the following year I won Wimbledon as a junior. So I think ever since then, I was like, Yeah, I can play good on grass."
Two years ago, Dimitrov knocked off reigning champion Andy Murray in an impressive straight-sets quarterfinal conquest and took a set off then world No. 2 Djokovic before bowing in a tight four-set Wimbledon semifinal.
Today he rallied with Djokovic again —the world No. 1 popped his head into the Bulgarian's press conference just as Dimitrov was declaring he fears no one.
"Are you sure you're not?" Djokovic asked.
"No. Especially you. Especially you. Especially you," a smiling Dimitrov said.
"Honestly, I don't fear anyone. I have beaten I think top players and in big tournaments," Dimitrov said. "Like I'm not afraid to get out there and get my hands dirty. I'm very happy to play right now. I think that's the thing is like I'm happy to play. And I think when you're happy, things are just happening. I know I have very tough rounds in general. I'm unseeded. It sucks, you know, I must say. It's been a while since I haven't been seeded.
"I take the positives out of that. Of course I don't forget everything else and I don't forget what I have done and I don't forget where I come from, of course. Now I just need to go back to the basics and just work my way through again."
Of course, a humbling aspect of tennis is even when you win, the next challenge often comes in the next round.
Dimitrov faces a major hurdle in Gilles Simon, who has won five of their six meetings, including their lone grass clash. Simon defeated Tipsarevic in four sets today. The slender Frenchman, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist last year, has shown the consistency, concentration and high-percentage combinations sometimes lacking in Dimitrov.
But after ending his losing streak, Dimitrov sounds eager to build a winning streak.
"I have to play big opponents next round, so the only way for me to get back to where I was is if I go through him," Dimitrov said. "That's just how it is, guys. Nothing else would help me, even if I'm a wildcard or whatever. That doesn't give you an extra privilege or anything. Just back to back to basics...
"I have played pretty much everyone out there. Obviously (Simon is) a tricky guy on any surfaces. I need to definitely bring my A game, but in the same time I'm pretty confident that my game is going to be good enough to beat him. So I'm coming out there with of course expectations for myself to win."