Dimitrov in Brisbane: first tournament after injury at Wimbledon against Sinner

Pilgrim of the Year

December 31st – 12.14pm – MILANO

The last image of Grigor Dimitrov that comes to mind, for once, is not a beautiful one-handed backhand or an elegant volley. But it is his tears, on the Center Court of Wimbledon, on a Monday in July that could have changed the history of Italian tennis. The Bulgarian, ahead 2 sets to 0 over Sinner (who would go on to win the tournament) in the round of 16 with very high level tennis, was forced to withdraw after injuring his pectoral following a serve. Since then, except for a fleeting appearance at 1000 in Paris, he has not been seen on the pitch again. Having dropped to world no.44 after starting 2025 in tenth place, Dimitrov is still not giving up. And next season, which will start in Brisbane, he intends to get serious again.

New life dimitrov

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The Bulgarian will open his 2026 at the Australian ATP 250 starting on January 5, a tournament that had given him his first title in more than 6 years at the beginning of 2024. An important place for Grigor’s career, which has already been a symbol of rebirth, and now it could once again help the late “baby Federer” to restore a career at high levels. Of course, he will turn 35 in May, but his great care for physical fitness and the greater longevity of current tennis work in his favor. Furthermore, 2026 will see an important change in his professional life: on Grisha’s bench will be the former world no.19 Xavier Malisse, a player as spectacular as he is discontinuous, who has already worked with Griekspoor and Popyrin. He will take the place of Daniel Vallverdu, from whom Dimitrov separated on excellent terms after eight years full of satisfactions.

Desire for tennis

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On the other hand, Dimitrov collapsed several times and then recovered. In 2017 he was No. 3 in the world, in 2019 he even finished outside the top 70. Then a semi-final at the US Open that year to relaunch himself (still the last at Slam level) and then a constant top 30 performance, at times top 20, until the exploit he experienced between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, with two 1000 finals and the top 10 rediscovered. Now, despite dark periods, he wants to do it again: “I went through difficult times, I thought I couldn’t go back to pushing with the forehand, with the serve. But little by little I realized that I still had time and hunger.” The drastic choice to change coach after a long time (“I had never made changes like this in my career, but I think it was the right time, I think there will also be new additions to the team”) clearly demonstrates the Bulgarian’s desire to give himself one last great chance. Starting again from a happy island.

The magic of Dimitrov

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“There is no better place to start than in Brisbane, I feel good physically and mentally,” says the Bulgarian. And these are not clichés: Grigor has already won the Australian tournament twice, seven years apart. In 2017 against Nishikori, a prelude to the best season of his career with victory at the ATP Finals and No. 3 at the end of the year; in 2024 against Rune, starting the rebirth. And now he aims to lift a trophy again, which is missing from the victory in the tournament in question: “Every time I take to the field with the aim of winning. I know that the ranking is no longer my ally, but if I do things in the right way and my body allows me to overcome the difficulties, many good things can happen”. The intentions are the best, the work done seems to have put Dimitrov back on track, also thanks to the moral support of the people dear to him, especially his current partner, the actress Eiza Gonzalez. All that remains is to wait for the judgment of the field: in Brisbane the number 1 on the scoreboard will be Medvedev, the last to enter directly (first level parterre) is the number 59 Mpetshi Perricard.