Grigor Dimitrov Press Conference | 2024 US Open Round 4

yeah uh yeah tricky match that's uh that's the least I can say uh it's been um you know you you you live through everything I mean I live through everything this match I think it was a very uh very challenging match for me on on so many different levels um when I look from from my physicality to my you know for the way that I felt after the first couple of sets so I mean anything anything could have happened I think the the steal of that second set really helped me to keep on you know to Keep On Believing to keep on you know trusting in my game and in my body I think after the the first couple of sets he started playing Amazing um I mean there's not much else I could have done I felt so I had to pull the Rings back a little bit and and wait for an opportunity uh I knew eventually I might get one throughout um the fourth and the fifth and it happened in the fifth so I think that was the big um the big difference today and after that I run with a match but it was a very uh very challenging we we both knew what what's going to happen in a way on on a few big big points and it's uh I mean in a way it could have also gone either way but I was just very happy how I stuck with my game and and really also stepped up my game where I really needed the most thank you name and affiliation one question each congratulations it's Charlie from the athletic um you've spoken about like the importance of preparation and recovery and all of that just wondered how much confidence that gives you going into these matches knowing you've done all of that so well and also just how tough it is playing a good friend like on yeah uh I think start with a with the good friend part I think it's it's it's never easy I mean whoever that I'm kind of close to on tour it's it always adds up to the occasion I mean of course we're profession and we we know what's what's at stake but today was I think a match where I mean I I knew I could I could count on a lot of things in my game and in a way I knew what I had to do like a little bit better than last time I played him you know the the past I'll would say like four weeks have been also like a bit challenging with me I think for me like physically cuz I wasn't really able to do certain things that I usually do before a SL so that was that had I put a bit of a question mark in I put a question mark on myself so um but leading up to the open like I I was kind of increasing that uh the load of my body the way I was practicing the the hours I was putting in and I really had to Pace myself on a very very different way that I've ever uh paced myself I think so that's what I'm saying here's the here's the the experience of things for me that I think really like push me over the line and and of course I I'm building I'm building my game even more I still believe I can I can step up on Arch and and play a better game uh he g v for inside tennis you cracked the top 10 this year you made the quarters in Paris and you're making the quarters here at the US Open so what's the secret behind this Resurgence this year particularly while you're in new 30s there's no secret uh I mean there's no secret there's no shortcuts either let me tell you that much even if I've tried but no um I don't know I think consistency over over the course of of of one's career you know it's uh the one thing is that I never quit I never stopped working you know I never stopped believing of course I had my doubtful moments on so many levels but I think once you win those like little battles with yourself it it kind of propels you to do something better um to to be aware you know of the opportunities that come that come around and that's why I always say you always got to be ready for whatever comes comes on your way I mean in a way it's not just tennis I think it it's everything and I never shied away of that of of the work that I had to put in I always wanted to improve um and then I never looked also on age any any anyway I I just I keep on playing and also like you know I'm here and the body is holding up and the game I think is improving and I I still feel like that there's there's quite a bit more to to squeeze out of myself in order to to maybe not only play better but win bigger events and you know keep the dream alive re hi Gregor re from the national congrats RoR in the last couple of years any conversations we've had with you you say a lot that uh enjoying tennis more enjoying the whole experience and you're very appreciative it's easier set than done for so many people and I'm wondering for you what what is there anything that's helped you shift your perspective to go from maybe seeing the pressures and things to being able to enjoy them yeah life experience H H yeah life experience I don't know I think the uh it's it's also not easy you know I still I still have my my bad days um but now I just I kind of I kind of LED them in like I don't I don't force things as I used to force before and maybe that's I think one of the part of like like growing up I think on on on so many different levels not just for the sport but I think for for yourself and there were some very difficult decisions I had to make for myself because I wanted to not only to be better on the court but also off the court so I start I mean I've always been very accountable of my own actions but then I had to find a different way to handle certain things like just put it that way I mean there's there's no point for me to to elaborate more on that but it's just uh you you live and learn I think that's that's also the the maturity that that I have had on and off the court that really I think helped me um and also have a great team great great family great close people um and then don't they don't shy away to tell me the the truth so I think that that helps as well I mean you I just want to live my dream like that's that's all I'm doing right now I think tennis overall it's it's it's just it's just the moment we have a window I mean I'm 15 years on tour and it feels like it just went very quick and it still go it goes quicker and quicker every single year CU let's face it I'm more closer to the end in the beginning and so that makes you appreciate even more the the times that you get to do that and winning those matches at that point now and all the mental battles that you need to win first within yourself and then then things are easier outside really we don't know for sure of course who you're playing next but if you could take each one individually maybe starting with Francis somebody you've played a few times but mostly long ago how would you describe what Francis is like right now and what your expectations are for that matter match I mean for me it's it's another match I mean clearly he's been he's been playing a great tennis here built off I think a great confidence the past I think three weeks playing well in um in Cincinnati winning some great matches out here so of course I mean either one of them is is is very dangerous players um that's just how it is I I lost to PO in three weeks ago had couple of match points um he comes off from winning Montreal um you know beating Nova here so there's just I think both players on a very high level right now it's just however I look at it but so am I um so I'm just going to focus on on on my side of the net and look to increase my you know my game and I just I feel like I can I also can play better so on that sense I mean it's um it's another tough match ahead we have time for one more Bill congratulations obviously we have such an incredible sport incredible game and uh few people have the blessing the opportunity of having a 15-year career could you take a minute and just what would you say the two or three things in tennis that have changed over your career in tennis in 10 in the sport of tennis yes the players for start that's a good question never thought about that I think tennis overall has changed I think I'll start probably with this because I mean the game that used to be played back then um it was just different maybe like let's say a little bit more slower uh times uh the players were you had a different like diversity of players overall um yeah I mean I'll say that's for me for me personally that's going to be the biggest the biggest difference I I mean I when you're I think when you're in it when you're still in it it's very difficult to be like objective to kind of see what you know have an overview on that end the only thing I can be extremely I mean judgmental with with is is the Players I mean I've seen quite a few generations of players um everything is such a fast pace nowadays and everyone is you know is doing their thing you know bigger stronger um so yeah I mean overall tennis has changed so I cannot pinpoint the other two uh maybe you asked me this question in five six years maybe I'll be able to answer better thank you everyone thank you gor thank you