Grigor Dimitrov makes ‘sad’ admission about Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem retirements
Grigor Dimitrov has reflected on the retirements of Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem with sadness.
The 33-year-old Bulgarian star admitted seeing his competitors leave the sport “takes a little piece” away from him.
Thiem played the final match of his career at the Vienna Open this week, losing to Luciano Darderi in the opening round.
Dimitrov won four of his seven matches against the 31-year-old Austrian, who won the 2020 US Open and reached a career-high ranking of world No 3.
Nadal, meanwhile, will call time on his career after the 2024 Davis Cup Final 8 stage in Malaga next month. Dimitrov earned one win in his 15 meetings with the 38-year-old Spanish icon, who secured 22 Grand Slam titles.
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Ahead of the Paris Masters, Dimitrov gave his reaction to Thiem and Nadal’s retirements.
“It’s sad. I saw Dominic a couple of days ago – he was in Vienna as well. I cannot help but think about that as well,” Dimitrov told Eurosport.
“Of course, everything has a beginning and an end, but seeing competitors that you grew up with and seeing these guys that are pushing you to do better, it takes a little piece away from you; that’s just how it is.
“I have respect for the new generation and everyone that is playing out there, but off the court it was a lot of fun; we were always poking fun at each other and I don’t see that now.
“I miss that healthy competitiveness, but I have nothing but respect for these players.”..
The world No 9 also revealed he is not planning to bring an end to his own career in the near future.
“I know everyone’s time is going to come up, and I’m not that close to the end, but I’m closer than a lot of the players,” Dimitrov added.
“However, I’m still a contender, I’m still playing, and I’m going to keep on fighting to the end to stay at the top.
“If my body allows me to do the things that I’m doing right now, then I’m more than hap..Dimitrov will face either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Zhang Zhizhen in his opening match at the Paris Masters next week.
