“Three times I was close to retiring from tennis,” Grigor Dimitrov drops a bombshell about his mental health struggles
Grigor Dimitrov opened up about his mental health struggles and admitted that he has suffered from anxiety attacks during matches.
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Grigor Dimitrov (via Imago)
Grigor Dimitrov has dropped a bombshell about his mental health struggles as he has confessed to having panic and anxiety attacks during his matches. The 33-year-old has also revealed that he was close to retiring from tennis three times.
Dimitrov made these revelations after reaching the final of the 2024 Stockholm Open After defeating Tallon Griekspoor 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals, Dimitrov talked about the downside of playing tennis and the mental health struggles players go through.
The World No. 9 admitted that he has had anxiety attacks in the middle of a match. Dimitrov further stated that while he is happy to see more and more players expressing their mental problems, he stressed that there is still not enough talk about mental health.
It would be a lie if I said I’ve never had problems. I have had severe moments of anxiety, panic attacks, even during a tennis match. Of course, it always helps when you can talk to people and share, even if it’s with another tennis player…I think a lot of athletes around the world are slowly starting to express themselves, which is great to see…We don’t talk about it enough.
Grigor Dimitrov said (via SpilXpertern)
Delving deeper into his struggles, Dimitrov confessed that he works hard to keep himself healthy on the inside but it is still a work in progress. The nine-times tour-level champion then recalled his performance in the 2019 US Open and revealed that he came close to hanging his racket three times.
The fights I’ve lost, where I judged myself too harshly after losing a fight, where I played the victim, those things are inevitable, they will come. But it’s about how you handle them and how you address them. Take 2019 when I entered the US Open ranked 82nd in the world as an example. That same year I finished third in the world. Three times I was close to retiring from tennis.
Grigor Dimitrov added
Dimitrov had one of his memorable campaigns at the 2019 US Open, where he reached the semifinal. On his way to the last four, he even beat 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer in an epic five-setter, in the quarterfinals.
Grigor Dimitrov emphasized the need to be vulnerable
To overcome the mental health struggles, Grigor Dimitrov feels talking to others will be helpful. However, he understands that men in general avoid being vulnerable. But Dimitrov feels otherwise. He feels that being vulnerable is a sign of strength.
The ATP ace said that vulnerability should not be looked upon as a weakness. Dimitrov also expressed pride in himself for being vulnerable.
I totally understand that I’m speaking from my perspective, but as men in general, we don’t talk about it often enough, but I think we should. It is not a weakness. I think it’s the opposite. I think showing vulnerability is a huge strength, an absolute huge strength. You stand firm on your own grounds. As a man, I am very proud of that.
Grigor Dimitrov said
The tennis star shared a piece of advice for his colleagues on the tour. Dimitrov emphasized the need to “listen to your own voice inside” and claimed that it is as important as the sport is for them.
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Ritesh Pathak
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