At 33, Grigor Dimitrov, Bulgaria’s top tennis player, has turned back the clock to recover his place among the world’s elite. The 2024 season was a watershed moment in his illustrious career, filled with milestones and astonishing performances that established his place at the forefront of the sport.
Dimitrov emphasized his delight in an October interview with Tennisportalen TV, saying, “I believe this is the best period of my career right now.” I am truly loving it and making the most of it. I feel stronger than many of the other players, which provides me an advantage on the court. His determination and resilience were evident as he returned to the ATP Top 10 on April 1, a feat he hadn’t accomplished since November 2018, following a stellar start to the season in which he won 20 of 25 matches and advanced to the semifinals or better in four of six tournaments.
Dimitrov’s consistency throughout the year garnered him numerous plaudits, including his 100th week in the Top 10 on August 5 and a year-end Top 10 finish for the second time since 2017. His enduring presence is inscribed into the statistics; following the retirements of high-profile contemporaries in 2024, he now has eight Top 20 season finishes, trailing only Novak Djokovic’s remarkable nineteen. With Djokovic being the only older player in the current Top 20, Dimitrov’s longevity in tennis is admirable.
His on-court performance was essential to his successful season. Dimitrov won one title and advanced to five finals in 2024, winning in Brisbane for his first trophy since 2017.
This year is his third most successful season in finals, after only 2017 and 2014, and he has risen to ninth in the ATP Tour prize money rankings, earning $3,186,056.
Dimitrov has an uninterrupted streak of consecutive Grand Slam appearances, which began at the Australian Open in 2011. He presently holds the title of active player with the longest streak, having competed in every major championship since. Djokovic is close behind in the stats, with his own amazing streak.
Furthermore, Dimitrov has spent nearly 600 straight weeks in the Top 100 this season, dating back to April 2012, demonstrating his consistent success on the tour. Only Djokovic has spent more weeks in the Top 100, demonstrating the Bulgarian’s exceptional longevity.
A memorable event occurred during the Open, when he not only reached the final but also defeated three top-ten players, including the formidable, who was then on a nine-match winning streak. Despite losing in the final, this journey was his 40th victory over top-10 ranked opponents.
Another highlight was a historic exhibition match in Sofia against none other than on September 17, where Dimitrov secured a thrilling 2-1 set victory in front of a packed house—an event that will not be reflected in the standings but will undoubtedly resonate with fans and highlight both players’ extraordinary careers.
Dimitrov’s expectations for 2025 remain high. With 459 career wins under his belt, he hopes to join the elite group of players who have 500 Tour victories by next season. “Probably a Slam, it would put a nice spin on that,” he thought about his dream scenario for this big milestone. “I think this is the part I’m going to look forward to in the next season,” he added, indicating a desire to keep his form while evolving and striving for even more consistency.