ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 7, 2024

Grigor Dimitrov

Mixed Zone

G. DIMITROV/Z. Bergs

6-3, 3-6, 6-2

Q. Another win here in Shanghai. It's kind of a special tournament for you.

GRIGOR DIMITROV: Yeah, it has become, appears to be so also. It's been tough, tough first rounds, honestly. Playing for a couple of days, weather has been really tricky. Health-wise, it's been not so easy for me, especially like the past week, so I'm just trying to make whatever I can with what I have.

I think so far I've been doing a good job. I think I played really good, especially in the third set today. In the first couple of games I was still adapting a little bit, but overall I felt like I was doing a lot of good things, so I just want to build up a little bit more confidence, and hopefully I can do that every match and go further in.

Q. How did you manage your day yesterday?

GRIGOR DIMITROV: Nothing, I just didn't do anything. I slept a little bit, I watched TV, did a bit of fitness. I didn't play tennis at all. I think in moments like this I really try to use my time more practical now than before. I'm really not stressing of hitting tennis balls. I think this sport has no impact on me, but it's more about my energy, how I'm going to manage it, and most important is when you get out there you're ready physically. I think that ultimately helps your mental aspect as well. I think I managed very good the past couple of days, and I haven't done anything, yeah, too much out there.

Q. How did you feel that you held up physically today?

GRIGOR DIMITROV: I was happy with everything. I think that was it. I was just saying that I think, given all the circumstances, that was, I think it was a great day for me. I have enough years in me to appreciate moments like that, because it's not really so much about the win, but it's how you manage it, how you adapt. That's the way the true art of our sport is.

I think when moments like that come I really appreciate them a lot more than anything else. Of course you want more, but also you need to be a little bit more aware, I think, in order for you to get further on.

Q. This is your 100th ATP Masters event. Are you aware of numbers like that, and what do you think about that?

GRIGOR DIMITROV: No way? That's fun. 100. Wow, that's a lot. That's a lot of Masters. No, I think, listen, I think whatever comes my way right now it's a pure bonus. I think for me one of the biggest things I think throughout the years that I feel like I have learned a lot is the appreciation of what we do. I think the longevity, when you look back and you think about it, let's say 16 years I've been on tour, it kind of hits you in a very funny way, like in a good way. And then all of a sudden you go like too far in the past, so it's like I'm trying not to really overthink about that, especially where I'm at right now. Because, yeah, let's face it, I'm more on the other side than this side. So, clearly I'm aware of that part, but I don't really chase like, you know, numbers or things that I want to achieve on that end. It's more like, whatever comes, it's a huge bonus for me right now, given also everything that I've gone through, you know, on and off the court.

I think a lot of my career also kind of resembles a bit of my life outside of the court. You want to make some changes, but in the same time these are changes that only affects your career more so than anything else. So, it's a give and take until you are done with it, I guess.

I think I still have a lot of tennis left in me. As I said, it's more about management now, and how I'm going to put myself in a position to have a pure joy every time I'm getting out there, and not to think so much of the result. It's very difficult, especially when you play really well and when you're top 10 and all that, of course you still want more, but you need to, I don't know if it's patience any more, if it's consistency, I think it's just, you put it all together and in the end it comes down to you.

Q. Your next match, Alexei Popyrin, the rematch of Montreal, how are you feeling?

GRIGOR DIMITROV: I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, we're playing tomorrow, I guess (laughing). So, yeah, I mean, I'm feeling good. As I said, I played only, let's see, one set today, so that's, you know, that's a good day at the office. It doesn't happen often, so you take it and you go on with it.

Of course, very dangerous opponent. He hits through nearly every ball. But as I said, today, a lot of my, a lot of weapons checked out very well, and I was able to control the game very nicely, actually, and I was putting myself in a position where I could be very dangerous.