BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

January 7, 2024

Grigor Dimitrov

Press Conference

G. DIMITROV/J. Thompson

6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Grigor, I know it's late, but just quick comment on the match. Jordan had a late match last night against Rafa.

GRIGOR DIMITROV: I expect nothing less from Jordan, to be honest. I watched a little bit of last night. Yeah, not that much. I mean, I kind of feel like I know the game, his game, very well, and Rafa's game. I played him a couple times. I think it was enough for me to see a little bit of that.

Yeah, definitely I think it was very taxing for him. Credit to him, he played an amazing match, the third set. What an amazing result.

I think the adrenaline, everything that was carrying him through, especially from last night, I knew that was going to help him a lot. The crowd was with him, as well.

I was really focused on my side of the net. I really tried to execute every shot that I had the best way possible. Of course, I was trying to be as aggressive as possible. I think that really helped a lot today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In the game where you faced three break points, you didn't take low-risk options at all. Had things backfired, do you think it could have changed the momentum of the match?

GRIGOR DIMITROV: Absolutely, yeah. If I would have lost that game, I think things would have gone different for me, no doubt about that.

However, I stayed through very aggressive. I think the first serve helped me a lot. That set me up to hit another shot. These moments, I played by the rules. I don't think I did anything extraordinary, especially in those moments. I served well when I had the first shot. Yeah, that was my best defense, was to be more aggressive.

The best part about it, I didn't have to. That's where I was very, like, collective with my serve. I knew exactly what I had to do. I knew my focus dropped a little bit. It was clear, Love-40. Very bad mistakes on my side. Double-fault, unforced error. In moments like that, you accept 'em. I think getting frustrated won't do me any well. I tried to focus on one point at a time.

After that game it gave me a little bit more of a breather to stay in the match but also to try to be aggressive on every opportunity I had.

Q. How badly do you want to win this title? It's been a long time since you've lifted one. Hunger must be pretty strong.

GRIGOR DIMITROV: My hunger? It goes way beyond that. I think it's been amazing for me and my team to just keep on doing what we've been doing I think the past months. That's where it's our biggest reward, biggest prize, is to play on those matches. Those are the matches that we want to be at.

Of course, winning is amazing. Putting any more pressure on myself for that I think is -- I don't think about it. I think that's the best part of what we have been focusing on with the team over the course. Kind of very different side of things. I think we look at the big picture for so many things.

Of course, you want to win. Of course, you want to lift the trophy. I think I'm very proud of all the other things that I've done so far. I think that playing on the final, that's the reward. Of course, I'll give 100% of myself. How the cards will unfold, I don't know. All I know is that I can control my attitude the best way possible and enjoy. I need to enjoy.

Q. Looking back, most years it comes up your visits to the arcade.

GRIGOR DIMITROV: I've been trying to bring my team there. They're a little bit lazy lately. Haven't had much time to do that. I would have loved to. We still get to go outside a little bit, just walk through the city.

This year honestly I haven't had any time. Even though we arrived earlier, we were trying to acclimatize as soon as possible. It was super hot the past week. It took a lot of energy out of everybody.

Of course, now I think I'm at the place where I need to be a little bit more precise in what I do, when I do and how I do. I'm okay with it.

It's a very interesting - I don't know - era that I'm at. It's like I'm getting a second wind not only in my sport but in my life with the things. I'm always the type of person that likes to stretch my skin and try new things. I've been adapting to so many different things, new things, in my life. It's been an interesting path so far.

Q. Age 32, what is that going to bring you tomorrow over a guy who is 20 who has stated his goal is to win a grand slam this year?

GRIGOR DIMITROV: Everyone speaks for themselves on that end. Again, what he has been able to achieve over the course in the past even couple of years has been amazing to see. I think there's a bunch of young, sort of much younger guys, that have done so well. They're on top of the game right now. It almost feels at their peak.

Let's not forget the other generation, me plus so many other players. We also have the experience. Let's say if we do the right things at the right time, you never know how things will unfold.

Of course, they're a little bit fearless. They want to hit the ball strong. I know they're strong clearly. You can see that. But there's ins-and-outs of the game.

I think when you're that young, you haven't seen the other side of the game and life as well. As an experienced person, you can gather some knowledge from the past and try to apply it in certain moments.

Who knows. Of course, you never know. I mean, I don't expect to come out there and play like the most flawless match. Of course not. In a way it's going to be a travel from the first point. That's just how it is. I love those moments because it also puts me in a place, in a position to know what can I do better, what can I learn more.

I feel like I can also learn in a way from every player, whether he's 20. I'm 32 now, so more of a different situation. I want to be an open-minded person. I don't want to get stuck in the same path. If I do, I'm not living right.