Finding Friendship: Grigor Dimitrov, Stefanos Tsitsipas chill together in Turin | ATP Tour

Nitto ATP Finals

Finding Friendship: Dimitrov, Tsitsipas cool off together in Turin

Former champions are seeing another side of the Nitto ATP Finals – and each other – as it’s replaced this year

November 14, 2024

Here’s some gossip from this year’s Nitto ATP Finals.

Benchwarmers Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are both former champions, winning their first matches. And they are the best players in the world with backhands.

So the Bulgarian and the Greek didn’t face the conversation this week as they spent time together at the Inalpi Arena, waiting for a tap on the shoulder to step in for a professional player in the event of illness or injury.

“Every day, we’ve been hitting together, and we talk a lot,” said Dimitrov, who won the final in 2017 but hasn’t been in the Elite Eight since. “So with our friendship, and dealing with something like this in general, without competition, I think it’s good.”

Tsitsipas, the only player to win the Next Gen ATP Finals and the Nitto ATP Finals (2019), also enjoyed his time with Dimitrov, leading him 6-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“We have been sitting for a while. He’s a cool guy. I love him very much,” said Tsitsipas who qualified for this event five years ago. “We definitely had time to talk about a few things and have fun. I’ve never seen that side of Grigor before. Because on Tour we do our own thing. And here it feels cool and fun.”

ATP Tour.com grabbed a few minutes with the switchers during their mini media day appearance to ask some questions…

ATP Tour: Grigor, you had 46 wins this year and need 41 more to reach 500. So let’s write a perfect scenario next year where you win your 500th game by winning a major title. What is the nature of the dream?
Dimitrov: That would be a very big thing. That’s good. I like setting goals like that. I don’t know, who knows there? Maybe Slam, will put a good spin on that.

ATP Tour: Can you get to 41 Wimbledon wins in a hot season?
Dimitrov: That’s a hot season. If I can do that, if I have 41 wins then, I think it will be great. Then I’m in business. But at the same time, I always like to set good goals. So, writing, I don’t really want to, but do I want to get there? Definitely.

I think this is the part I will be looking forward to next season. To be able to do. Not just continuing my form that way, but being able to adapt, change a little and maybe even a little.

ATP Tour: What dream match against a retired player would you like to play?
Tsitsipas: I have many of them. I will choose ours [Laver Cup] captain, Bjorn Borg. We just have to bring up his game, right?

ATP Tour: How does your single hand match up to its double hand? Let’s say you both have wooden racquets.
Tsitsipas: I think about my technique, I can handle it well with a wooden racket. I have good old fashioned skills.

ATP Tour: We are unlikely to see a rapid rise in top players returning to the one-handed backhand. But do you think we’re at the bottom now and that we could see a gradual increase in one-handers in the future?
Tsitsipas: I think we are down. My goal and vision is to give back. I have been training a few young players. I push them to walk with one hand. I’m just doing my part in that. I’m just trying to push them as much as I can, because I don’t want to see the gun dead. And the only way I can do it is to inspire the next generation to make that choice.

ATP tour: How do you sell the benefits of using one hand?
Tsitsipas: It’s intense. Another advantage is that you have a much better reach than a two-handed backhand. Of course, it requires more energy and more work to be perfect. But the beauty of it is, it’s one of the best pictures in tennis. You won’t find a good one. And I think it’s a combination of being able to mix between a slice and a single backhand, a much easier transition than when you’re playing a two-handed backhand.