TENNIS in DEPTH.

The Bulgarian Tennis Federation expectedly chose Grigor Dimitrov as No 1 Bulgarian tennis player of 2009. In a special press-conference the federation presented the winners. Tsvetana Pironkova is the best female tennis player of the year. Awards were given also the bestprogressingyoung tennis players of theyear – Dimitar Kuzmanov who reached No 1 of the European ranking of boys under 16 and Viktoriya Tomova who is the European champion – girls under 14.

Grigor Dimitrov announced in interviews for several Bulgarian newspapers and sports sites that he is still to participate in a challenger tournament until the end of the year and then will start the year in the qualifications of Australian Open.

Dimitrov was at first coached at Tennis Club Haskovo by his father, Dimitar. Thanks to his guidance the young tennis player won the Orange Bowl U16 boys singles in 2006. In 2007 Grigor Dimitrov and Vasek Pospisil have reached the double finals at US Open, but unfortunately were defeated by Jonathan Eysseric and Jérôme Inzerillo. At Wimbledon 2008 Dimitrov made his way to the final and won the tournament by defeating Henri Kontinen of Finland, 7/5, 6/3. But Wimbledon title was not enough for Grigor. His success at the Grand Slam tournaments continued when he won US Open, defeating Devin Britton 6/3, 6/4. This tournament was the end of Dimitrov’s junior career, as he announced. He also said, that he will be now focusing on improving his ATP ranking. Dimitrov was granted a wildcard to the main draw of the 2009 ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam at the begining of the year. He faced Rafael Nadal and pushed the World #1 tennis player to the edge before losing 7-5 3-6 6-2. He was also granted a wildcard to the main draw of the ATP World Tour 250 event Open 13 in Marseille, but he lost in the first round to Gilles Simon of France, 4-6 6-3 7-5.

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