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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World No. 61 Juan Monaco swiftly put behind him the disappointment of losing two Davis Cup rubbers at the weekend by booking his place in the second round of the Catella Swedish Open. The Argentine ousted his eighth-seeded countryman Maximo Gonzalez 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-1 on Tuesday at the ATP World Tour 250 clay-court tennis tournament in Bastad.

The 25-year-old Monaco twice trailed by a break of serve in the first set before clinching it on a tie-break and rallied from dropping the second set to break serve three times in the deciding set to seal victory after two hours and 18 minutes. The Tandil native is making his fourth appearance in Bastad and reached the quarter-finals on his debut in 2004 (l. to F. Gonzalez).

Argentine qualifier Guillermo Canas dismissed the challenge of Bulgarian wild card Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 7-6(2) to set up a second-round meeting with Swede Andreas Vinciguerra. Former World No. 8 Canas, currently at No. 151 in the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings, is making his fourth appearance in Bastad and was a quarter-finalist in 2002 (l. to Calleri).

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Dimitrov the Bulgarian teenager is being talked of as the next great talent to hit ­tennis. He was the Wimbledon and US Open junior ­champion last year and next week he will play in the Wimbledon main draw for the first time.

Dimitrov’s talent is abundant and obvious. The serve is loose and free flowing; the backhand a glorious shot that is reminiscent of Federer, though ­Lundgren believes that the 18-year-old is better than the Swiss was at the same age. It might seem a huge burden of expectation to carry but for the moment Dimitrov appears like any other teenager, at least off court. He plays pool and table tennis with Lundgren and gets his knuckles rapped when he leaves his wallet in the locker room. The Swede, who worked for a short time with Britain’s Davis Cup squad, is part mentor, part friend, part surrogate father.

“Grigor has got all the strokes,” he said. “He has the serve, the slice, topspin, everything. He just needs to get stronger, that’s all. Above all he has the fire, the will to win.”

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JO-WILFRIED TSONGA:

Hardly an unknown quantity, but the 2008 Australian Open finalist has been forced to keep a lid on his ambitions due to a series of injuries. Fully fit, he would prove a match for almost anyone on grass, and he has the pedigree: he reached the fourth round as a wild card in 2007.

IVO KARLOVIC:

Again, the gangly Croatian is hardly coming from nowhere, having produced one of the biggest upsets in history when he beat defending champion Lleyton Hewitt in the first round in 2003. When his crashing serve and volley tennis is in full flow, he can beat almost anyone.

GRIGOR DIMITROV:

The reigning boys singles champion could be a star in the making. He won the title last year without dropping a set and despite carrying a shoulder injury. In his first full professional year, he has beaten Czech Tomas Berdych and taken a set off Rafael Nadal in Rotterdam. One to watch.

JOHN ISNER:

Tall, hard-hitting US college star Isner caused a sensation when he reached the final of the Legg Mason Classic in 2007. He has established himself inside the top 100 and heads to his favourite surface in fine form, having proven his adaptability by reaching the last eight of the US clay court championships.

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA:

Radwanska won the 2005 girls’ singles title at Wimbledon and her clever play has seen her continue to excel on the surface without achieving the major breakthrough many feel she is capable of. Winner at Eastbourne last year, a favourable draw could give Radwanska a chance.

AGNES SZAVAY:

Few in the sport were surprised when the fast-rising Hungarian beat Venus Williams at Roland Garros this year. Although most of her success has come on clay, the talented Szavay reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year and looks more than capable of a repeat performance.

JELENA DOKIC:

Remember the then unknown Dokic’s stunning first round win over Martina Hingis in 1999? Dokic also reached the Wimbledon semi-finals before experiencing career meltdown. Now back and, back injuries permitting, capable of causing a few upsets heading towards the second week.

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA:

Pavlyuchenkova was the youngest player in the women’s singles draw last year when she reached the third round. Still only 17, she has added Jelena Jankovic and Agnieszka Radwanska to her ever-growing list of scalps this year. Another for the big names to watch out for.

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The first three wild cards into the AEGON Championships at The Queen’s Club in London have been awarded to a two-time runner-up, the current Wimbledon and US Open Boys champion, and a man who Rafael Nadal predicts will be a Top 10 player in the future.

The former finalist is Sebastien Grosjean, the reigning Wimbledon junior champion is the exciting 17-year-old Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, and the man that pushed Nadal all the way in last year’s third round at The Queen’s Club is Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Frenchman Grosjean reached the final in 2003 and 2004 where he was defeated on both occasions by Andy Roddick. In both of those years, the jet-heeled 30-year-old also showed that the tournament at Queen’s is the perfect Wimbledon preparation by reaching the semi-finals at the All England Club. He will be hoping that the AEGON Championships in 2009 is the perfect launch-pad for a successful comeback to professional tennis after undergoing shoulder surgery last December.

Dimitrov is one of the most promising talents in the world and was recently described by coach Peter Lungren, who previously worked with Roger Federer and Marat Safin, as: ‘better than Federer at the same age’. He is currently at a career-high No.372 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, and still the No.2 junior player in the world despite not having played a junior event since winning the US Open last September.

Nishikori, 19, is currently the highest ranked teenager in the world at No.118, but he has been as high as No.56 after winning his first ATP World Tour title last year in Delray Beach. After several more impressive results in 2008, including a run to the last 16 at The Queen’s Club, Nishikori was voted the ATP Newcomer of the Year, becoming the first Asian player ever to win the award. He was beaten 6-4 3-6 6-3 by Nadal in the third round last year. Afterwards, Nadal said: “He is going to be a top 10 player for sure, maybe top five. I am 100 percent sure. He’s a very talented player. He needs to improve a few little things, but he’s going to be very good.”

The three wild cards will join a field that already includes the World No.1 and defending champion Nadal, World No.3 Andy Murray and four-time champions Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick. James Blake, Marat Safin and Marin Cilic have also signed up to appear. The tournament still has two more wild cards to award. These will be announced in due course.

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..where's your doubles partner?..I've got mine...and why are you taking your pants off?

..c'mon let me feel those abs....

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To say that Gilles Simon was close to being kicked out of the tournament is an understatement. Facing the new “jewel” of world tennis, the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the number 8 in the world was down 2-5 in the third set. Three times the 17 year old Bulgarian was 2 points away from winning, but he is ranked #401 in the world and clearly lacking experience, Dimitrov gave Simon an opening which the Frenchman was quick and thankful to take. After having worried Nadal last week in Rotterdam, the rookie proved that he is no joke. Final score 4-6 6-3 7-5. For Simon, it was another marathon match, he will now have to rest for his second round match versus a player much older, Rainer Schuettler.

Anyone who has been priviliged to watch 17 year old Dimitrov play has to be aware that they are seeing the next great champion. He plays with a maturity far beyond his years, he constructs points in much the same way that Roger Federer does, and he executes his game plan with an incredible variety of controlled shots from anywhere on the court. His one-handed backhand is pure delight to watch and a product of natural talent…for no coach can teach such a perfect stroke.

When and wherever he plays I will make every effort to witness his performance, and watch as he climbs up the rankings to the very top!

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