Dubai: Top seed and title favourite Grigor Dimitrov is not looking beyond his first round encounter against Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri for the moment as the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open gets under way on Monday.
Dimitrov, who went down in straight sets in under an hour against Roger Federer at the Rotterdam Open final last weekend, arrived in Dubai last week and commenced his preparations. The Bulgarian was drawn to face Jaziri in their first round match.
“We’ve known each other for a really, really long time. We played a lot, even before we both got on tour. Yeah, absolutely, he plays well. I know he has good results out here. He likes the conditions here. He’s been playing well. For sure I need to be ready,” Dimitrov told media at the customary pre-tournament media meeting.
WATCH: The Defending Champion for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship's is here. Take a look at what Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov has to say about his first clash with Tunisian Malek Jaziri.
“I just came earlier here as I thought it was just important for me to get out here in the heat. In the past days, it’s been warm and I like the heat. As I said, every opponent that you play, you just don’t have to underestimate, that’s all. Right now I’m just really, really focused even a bit more on myself, on the way I’m going to recover, just position myself this week,” he added.
A former world number one in his junior days, Dimitrov has been struggling with a shoulder injury that he picked up during the Australian Open where he reached the quarter-finals. “I’m getting out there. It’s still been a little up and down. I came here a little bit earlier to acclimatise to the conditions. I’m still talking a little nosy here. But I’m better, overall better. Pretty much been practising every single day. That helps me just push through days. Hopefully with each day, I’m going to be better and better,” he added.
For the moment, Dimitrov remains the first and only Bulgarian male tennis player to win an ATP singles title. He is also the only Bulgarian to qualify and then win the season-ending ATP Finals held in London. Called ‘Junior Fed’ at times for a similar playing style to the Swiss ace, the 26-year-old Dimitrov won the junior Wimbledon and US Open crowns, both in 2008.
His first round opponent Jaziri remained unfazed about playing a more illustrious player. “I’m ready. I made good preparations for the tournament, played few matches here. Hopefully I’m ready for him [Dimitrov],” Jaziri said.
Ironically, the 34-year-old Tunisian has always had tough first round opponents in Dubai starting from his debut here in 2013 where he drew top seed Roger Federer. His best performance was in 2014 when he went down in straight sets to Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber.
“Yeah, I always play well here in Dubai as I enjoy this tournament. It’s the best ATP 500 in the world. It’s a pleasure to be here and show great tennis. I’m used to playing top seeds. I’m used to playing top 10 here,” Jaziri smiled.
Now ranked No. 109, Jaziri achieved a career best No. 47 exactly a year ago. His best showing at Grand Slam events have been a couple of third round appearances at the Australian Open in 2015 and 2017. “Hopefully, this time it will be a good one,” Jaziri added.
