TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN – 23rd of January 2015. G.Dimitrov d. M.Baghdatis 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. An interview with Grigor Dimitrov
Q. Reward for the physical work you’ve been putting in?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: Yeah. Where should I start from? Tough game. I mean, obviously it was a tough game for me. Didn’t really feel comfortable on the court. Thought Marcos was playing dominating tennis early on in the match. I wasn’t really able to turn things around as fast as I wanted to. I felt quite good physically, which was I think the best sign for me today. I’m not going to hide my excitement of winning the match because it meant a lot to me. To be able to play three and a half hours and win 6-3 in the fifth and feelin really good after the match physically, that says a lot for me. Just getting ready for the next one.
Q. A couple days ago you called Maria the greatest fighter ever. What about the match today, the fight that you showed?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: I just said matches like that really defines I think who you are and how you want to be, I don’t know, remembered, your nickname, whatever you guys want to call it. I just feel that matches like that, it’s really important to win, even if it’s not on your best days. I think this is how you go forward. Today was one of those days for me, that I didn’t really feel good on the court, wasn’t really comfortable with my game, but I found a way to fight through it two sets to one down. To me that says a lot. In the same time, gives me a lot of confidence.
Q. Why do you think you weren’t feeling comfortable today?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: Because it’s not every day you wake up in the morning and you feel 100% to play tennis, you know. Especially on days like that, it’s really important to keep your sanity, you know, give what you got, play with what you have. So to me was just one of those days that pretty much nothing was going my way. But the only thing I had was like my composure, my physicality that really came through in the fifth set. I thought I played smart when I had to. I think that made a lot of big difference, especially in his game. I thought he was performing really well. I thought he played a really good tennis. So I just had to come up with some extra stuff from me, and I think I did.
Q. Did you have some shoe issues? You switched two or three times.
GRIGOR DIMITROV: Yeah, but it’s all in the frame. I think I finished the match with shoes on my feet, so that’s good. Yeah, I have enough to finish the tournament with.
Q. Andy took the first set 6-1. If it’s going to be him in the next round, how much do you look forward to that matchup?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: Well, it’s a great matchup for me. I’m always excited to play against him. You know, I had a tough loss against him in Paris. So, you know, it’s a good matchup. I always like that kind of challenge. I think physically and mentally I’m ready to play that match and really give 100% from myself. I’m going out there to win the match. So there’s nothing else I can say about it.
Q. Do you look at your Wimbledon quarterfinal as maybe the best match you played at a slam so far?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: Maybe. I would say maybe. But I don’t really think so. It just happened for me on that day to really play good. I thought I really played good on that day. I use every single mistake that he did. I’m sure if I play him in the next round he’s going to be really focused and composed and wants to do everything to stop me. In the same time, I’m feeling really ready, and I like my chances every time I go out on the court. So I think it’s going to be a great matchup.
Q. You gave a passionate salute to your box today. How has Roger helped you on days like today?
GRIGOR DIMITROV: I thought I was really calm and composed throughout the match today. I think this is what I really needed today. I couldn’t really push myself even more. But deep down I knew what I had to do. I knew what I wanted also from my team, to cheer me up in a certain way. I mean, I’m sure they believed in me throughout the whole match, so I knew I had their backup. In the end, I just really pulled it through in a manner that I wanted to. You know, it’s all teamwork.
