Grigor Dimitrov has shared his heartfelt reflections on the recent retirements of Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem, expressing a deep sense of loss.
The 33-year-old Bulgarian tennis star conveyed that witnessing his fellow competitors exit the sport feels like “taking a little piece” of his own journey away. This week, Thiem marked the end of his career at the Vienna Open, where he faced off against Luciano Darderi in the first round, ultimately losing the match.
Dimitrov has had a competitive history with Thiem, winning four out of their seven encounters. Thiem, a former US Open champion, once climbed to the prestigious No. 3 spot in the world rankings. Meanwhile, Nadal has announced that he will retire after the upcoming 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, capping off a legendary career that includes an astounding 22 Grand Slam titles. Dimitrov’s own record against the Spanish legend stands at one win in 15 meetings.
As he gears up for the Paris Masters, Dimitrov opened up about the emotional impact of these retirements. “It’s sad. I saw Dominic a couple of days ago – he was in Vienna as well. I cannot help but think about that as well,” he remarked to Eurosport.
He continued, “Of course, everything has a beginning and an end, but seeing competitors that you grew up with and seeing these guys that are pushing you to do better, it takes a little piece away from you; that’s just how it is.” The camaraderie and banter he shared with these players are dearly missed. “I have respect for the new generation and everyone that is playing out there, but off the court, it was a lot of fun; we were always poking fun at each other, and I don’t see that now,” he added.
Dimitrov reminisced about the vibrant spirit of healthy competition that characterized his interactions with Nadal and Thiem, highlighting a void he now feels. “I miss that healthy competitiveness, but I have nothing but respect for these players.”
Looking ahead, the world No. 9 reassured fans that he has no immediate plans to retire. “I know everyone’s time is going to come up, and I’m not that close to the end, but I’m closer than a lot of the players,” he noted. “However, I’m still a contender, I’m still playing, and I’m going to keep on fighting to the end to stay at the top. If my body allows me to do the things that I’m doing right now, then I’m more than happy.”
As the Paris Masters approaches, Dimitrov is set to clash with either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Zhang Zhizhen in his opening match, ready to showcase his skills on the court once more.