“Physically, Alcaraz is another level – but experience is also important!” Dimitrov on why match intelligence helps in Shanghai

It’s not all about youth if you want to succeed on the ATP Tour

Grigor Dimitrov at the Madrid Open in 2023 (Laurent Lairys/Panoramic)

October 11, 2023

After one of his best results of recent times, Grigor Dimitrov spoke to the press about how he managed to get past world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz to reach the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals.

“I think a lot of that is, has to do with experience,” he said.

“I mean, clearly he’s, I mean, physically he’s in another level. I feel like I’m in a very good level physically and moving well and being fast and all that, but, like, some balls he was getting to, it was just, even for me as a player, it was nice, I mean, amazing to see and feel as well in the same time.

Pure. Tennis. Joy.

Grigor Dimitrov's top 5 plays as he stunned Carlos Alcaraz in Shanghai! pic.twitter.com/ge24cQSIXa
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 11, 2023

“You know, tennis is a very tough sport, but also at the same time you need to be quite intelligent to know what to do at the right time. I think at times I really had to sort of slow down the game a little bit, and be a little bit more rational in terms of what decisions I had to do, how I had to handle certain situations, where I was serving and all that.

“So, yeah, that is definitely experience, but, yeah, you always need to, I feel like I have enough tools in my bag to really, you know, pick them when I really need them. I think today, on quite a few moments throughout the match, I had the answer for it. I think that also made a big difference throughout the match.”

Dimitrov: I rate this win up there

And the 32-year-old added that it was certainly one of his most pleasing wins of the year.

“Given all the circumstances throughout the year and how everything has unfolded for me at certain tournaments, I definitely rate this win up there.

“But, yeah, I just don’t want to like overthink it to that extent. I feel like also I’ve done quite a bit of work as well and I think, you know, that match is also a little big reminder for me that, you know, that I feel like I’m in a good path. I’m going to stay as positive as I can possibly can, and, yeah, work through whatever I have to and whoever I have to play.”