Dimitrov never liked being compared to Federer: "It's probably one of the worst things I've had to face in my career"
Grigor Dimitrov isn't just any player. Ranked 10th in the world this week, the Bulgarian is one of the most popular players on the circuit, thanks in no small part to his highly aesthetic game.
In the run-up to Wimbledon, where he will be one of the main outsiders, the 33-year-old confided in our New York Times colleagues. Reflecting on the frequent comparisons made between himself and Roger Federer, Dimitrov was keen to explain the weight this has had on his career: "At first, I thought it was funny and then... I'm not going to say I hated it, but I didn't like it because it didn't make sense.
We're very different. Yes, we have some similarities, but we're not really the same people and I don't think it was necessary. It's probably one of the worst things I've had to face in my career.
I never liked it and it never did me any good. It was an obvious burden to carry and frankly, it didn't do me any good. Of course, I'm flattered, but I've always wanted to be my own person."
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