Bulgarian Player Seeks Novel Direction with Argentine Legend

Grigor Dimitrov is hoping a change in coaching will spark a return to form, adding former World No. 3 David Nalbandian to his team for the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco. Nalbandian will work alongside Xavier Malisse, who joined Dimitrov’s camp earlier this season.

A Natural Connection

Dimitrov expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership, highlighting a shared understanding with both Nalbandian, and Malisse. I knew them separately and it also helps to have played against them several times. It’s nice to be able to relate to someone you’ve played with. he said in an interview with ATP Media. They’ve been retired for more than 10 years, but it’s not that long either.

He further explained the ease with which the collaboration developed: In the beginning, when I started talking to them, we really started to see things in a similar way and I could identify with them in terms of the moment of their careers, the injuries, the game strategy, the thoughts and all that. In a way, it happened very naturally.

Finding the Right Balance

Despite the promising start, Dimitrov acknowledged the team is still in the early stages of building synergy. Right now, we are still looking for our balance and our rhythm because it is something very new for all of us. But we are very clear about what needs to be done and how we want to approach the game.

A Comeback Story

This coaching change comes after a challenging 2025 for Dimitrov, marked by a pectoral injury sustained during a promising match against Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon. The injury sidelined him for an extended period, impacting his competitive schedule. He returned to competition at the Paris Masters 1000 but was forced to withdraw before his second-round match against Daniil Medvedev.

Prior to the injury, Dimitrov had parted ways with coaches Jamie Delgado and Daniel Vallverdu, signaling a desire for a fresh perspective.

Reflecting on Past Challenges

Dimitrov spoke candidly about the need for change and the mental toll of his injury. I had to change some things, whether I liked it or not. It was more of a job that I had to do for myself, more from a mental point of view. I had to change a lot of things and that affected me a little mentally. But it’s normal, and I’m trying to see the positive side. I had never had a serious injury nor had I been away from the sport for so long, so it was something completely new.

Nalbandian’s Return to the Court

David Nalbandian, a former Masters Cup champion and winner of multiple Masters 1000 titles, retired from professional tennis in 2013. He briefly served as a part-time coach for Miomir Kecmanovic before rejoining the tennis circuit with Dimitrov.

Looking Ahead

Dimitrov will debut with his new coaching team at the ATP 500 Acapulco, where he will face Terence Atmane in the first round. The tournament represents a crucial opportunity for Dimitrov to rebuild momentum and demonstrate the impact of his revamped support system.