Hot Shot Grigor Dimitrov Says He’s Now Focused On Winning, And So Far It’s Working

After a mid-season season slump, Grigor Dimitrov has found his footing again this week in Cincinnati. The 25-year-old Bulgarian has enjoyed some of his best wins of this season in the Queen City with wins over Gilles Simon, Feliciano Lopez, Stan Wawrinka and yesterday Steve Johnson.

The former Top struggled earlier this year mired in a 6-match losing streak. But thanks to hard work things are looking up again and so too is his ranking which is hovering again near the Top 20 mark.

“My only goal was to get seeded for New York, and then I would for sure think about the rest of the year,” Dimitrov said. “If you win, everything else comes with it. It’s so simple.

“I’ve been just practicing a lot. I’m not going to lie. I’ve been just practicing. Just dug myself like right into tennis. I haven’t been actually able to follow anything else but that and what I had to focus each day out on the court.”

Dimitrov has also brought on board a new coach, Murray’s old charge Dani Vallverdu who has simplified the process.

“We’re just looking at the big picture,” he said. “Yes, it’s a great week. Yes, I’m playing good. That’s not the ultimate goal. Just a result of what we have been doing. I think it’s actually a very good way to look at tennis that way.

“I feel the same way. I think that helps us to sort of get out there on the court and structure the right way of practicing, the right amount of work, and what needs to be done. That’s how you put yourself in the best position to play a match. I think that’s a good way to look at things.”

Now in his third career Masters semifinal, he’ll meet Marin Cilic in a rematch of the Croatian’s easy week in Rio last week.