Dimitrov Not Discouraged By Kyrgios Loss

Despite losing in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp to a red-hot Nick Kyrgios, Grigor Dimitrov can hold his head high knowing he’s started 2018 with the same momentum that he finished a career year in 2017. 

Last season’s Nitto ATP Finals titlist and defending Brisbane champion gritted through two tough three-set matches before falling to Nick Kyrgios in a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 decision. Saving match points in his season-opening clash with John Millman, Dimitrov navigated Kyle Edmund in the quarter-finals in yet another two-and-a-half hour thriller. Against Kyrgios, however, the Bulgarian was unable to come up with the answer to his opponent’s cannonball serve and unpredictable patterns of play. 

“I’m glad at least I could play some matches and get to those clutch moments,” said Dimitrov. “Obviously, it was great to go through those three-setters, saving a match point in the first round.

“I’m building off those kind of matches. Obviously, today has been — it was again a tough match. I think I played well the first set… after that, there was not much else I could have done, I thought,” the 26-year-old added. “He was just serving unbelievable, just hitting his spots. Like, I even thought at some point was a little bit, like, carelessly hitting the ball, and they were getting in. 

“It was just good shots from him.”

Although Dimitrov was able to secure an early break thanks to a combination of his opponent’s wavering focus and his own tenacious defense, Kyrgios amped up the pressure on his serve and on return, hitting 19 aces in the one hour, 33-minute encounter. The prolific shotmaker is into his first ATP World Tour final on home soil.

For the first time in their now 2-1 FedEx ATP Head2Head series, Dimitrov was flummoxed by the Australian’s capricious style. 

“I mean, there were a lot of balls that were pretty casual, but what can I do? There’s no point for me to get frustrated or pissed whatsoever. You just have to accept it,” said Dimitrov.

“And we know how he is. He can switch from playing unbelievable to just missing, you know, the easiest shots and all that … sometimes when there’s no way out, you try to change up the game and break the rhythm of a player. And today just everything, whatever I thought he tried, it was just great.”

Dimitrov heads to Melbourne next, where he reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open last year, following his Brisbane triumph. It was his second Grand Slam semi-final – before falling to Rafael Nadal in one of the best Grand Slam matches of 2017.

“I’m a little bit tired, but it’s good,” said Dimitrov on how he feels following Brisbane, leading into Melbourne. “It’s great to get, as I said, those matches early on. Try to play a few three-setters to see how the body feels after two-and-a-half hours. 

“[But] the body feels great. As I said, a little bit tired, but I think after couple of days off and getting bit of treatment, things will get back on track.”