“I really wanted to have my own name,” Grigor Dimitrov found comparison with Roger Federer funny and annoying as fans used to call him ‘Baby Federer’

When Dimitrov arrived on the scene, fans used to compare his game to that of Federer by calling him 'Baby Federer'.  

“I really wanted to have my own name,” Grigor Dimitrov found comparison with Roger Federer funny and annoying as fans used to call him ‘Baby Federer’

Grigor Dimitrov, Roger Federer (Images via Imago)

Grigor Dimitrov is no more ‘Baby Federer‘, a nickname that he found funny and annoying. He wants to establish his own name without comparison with a great of the game like Roger Federer. 

When Dimitrov arrived on the scene in 2008, his backhand and swift movements were noticed by the tennis fraternity. Unfortunately for the Bulgarian, fans compared his game to that of Federer by calling him ‘Baby Federer‘.  

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I thought it was funny, but at some point, I said to myself: 'I would like to establish myself as the tennis player that I am, as the person that I am.'  I think it was one of my goals to continue on this path. 'Okay, this is my day, this is my time to establish myself as this player who has nothing to do with anyone else.' I think I did a great job with that and, honestly, I was very proud of that part in particular because I really wanted to have my own name. 
Grigor Dimitrov told The Guardian

As a new face, Dimitrov’s first goal was to make it to the top 10 and once he got there, he said, he had nothing to prove. In 2017, he reached his best in the rankings by occupying the third spot and as he is enjoying a good season, he found his name in the top 10 again.  

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Grigor Dimitrov has faced Roger Federer eight times

Roger Federer faced Grigor Dimitrov eight times, beating him in seven of those matches. They first clash in Basel in 2013, which the Swiss maestro won.

Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov (Image via Imago)

Dimitrov couldn’t beat Federer in the next seven matches. He finally beat the 20-time Grand Slam champion in the 2019 US Open, which was also their last encounter. 

Federer retired in 2022 following a doubles match at the Laver Cup by teaming up with Rafael Nadal. The 42-year-old retired after lifting 103 career titles and a 1251/275 win-loss record. 

On the other hand, Dimitrov is in Rome for the ATP 1000 Masters event and overcame Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in his first round 7-5, 6-4. The Bulgarian will next face Terence Atmane on May 12th. 

The 32-year-old played two finals this season, the Open 13 (ATP 250 event which he won by beating Ugo Humbert) and the Miami Open, which he lost to Jannik Sinner. Before Rome, he lost to Jakub Menšík in the Round of 64 of the Madrid Open. 

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