After defeating Marton Fucsovics in the first round, Grigor Dimitrov should be considered a threat at this year’s Australian Open.
Many are thinking it but not many are saying it out loud. That’s understandable as it’s been three years since Dimitrov made it to the quarterfinals of a Major. We’re here to start discussing it out loud. Here’s why Dimitrov is a dark horse this fortnight.
Is Grigor Dimitrov A Threat At The Australian Open?
Recent Form
Dimitrov’s form is inarguable. From a bit of a dry spell, Dimitrov has now went the past five months achieving the following:
- Five top 10 wins over Alcaraz, Medvedev, Rune x 2 and Tsitsipas.
- Paris Masters final and Shanghai Masters semifinal.
- First title in over six years in Brisbane.
The Bulgarian has played with clarity and assuredness to get these results. What’s changed?
Coaching Team
Having Dani Vallverdu back on his team has made a huge difference for Dimitrov.
The former world #3 was often prone to being too flashy. Vallverdu has stripped things right back, giving Dimitrov a much simpler game plan: attack with the serve and forehand and use the backhand slice much more.
Put simply—attack when you can and be consistent when you can’t attack.
Dimitrov’s backhand slice has some of the highest backspin rates on the tour. It’s incredibly difficult to attack and can be a headache for most of the men on the tour that aren’t used to playing against it. Relying on this strength rather than going for lower-percentage flashy topspin backhands has made a world of difference to his game.
Sounds simple, right? Well there’s one other factor that’s allowed Dimitrov to do this.
Physicality
Vallverdu’s tactics only work if Dimitrov is comfortable hanging in long physical rallies—the Bulgarian is looking fitter than ever.
Take his first round win. Fucsovics has often been a banana skin for seeded opponents at Slams.
Of all the ways to beat Fucsovics, outlasting him physically is not usually on the bingo card. Djokovic at the US Open in 2018 and now Dimitrov are the only two I've ever seen do it. Both incredibly hot days.
— Gill Gross 🧋 (@Gill_Gross) January 16, 2024
As noted by Gill Gross on X (formerly Twitter,) very few have been able to beat Fucsovics in a physical battle. On a sweltering day in Melbourne, however, Dimitrov did just that.
The former semifinalist here has been in 16 Grand Slam matches longer than the three and a half hour mark he played against Fucsovics. He’s lost 11 of those matches—historically, he has had a tendency to wane as the match goes on longer and longer.
Going Forward
Physically fitter than ever, in great form and backed by the right coaches for him, Dimitrov’s draw won’t give him too much fear.
- Second round: Kokkinakis has shown he can be outlasted physically in the past.
- Third round: Neither Davidovich Fokina nor Borges have great hard court pedigree.
- Fourth round: Medvedev will be the real test but the Russian has shown vulnerability in longer matches here in Australia (4-4 in matches over three hours). If Dimitrov can take it to a fifth set, he’ll have a good chance.
It’s a big “if” to make it passed Daniil Medvedev. Until then—you read it here first!
Main Photo Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
