"I wanted to dig a hole and disappear": Grigor Dimitrov's toughest opponent still unmatched after Sinner Miami Open thrashing

Often compared to Roger Federer during his career, Grigor Dimitrov said that playing the Swiss legend made him want to dig a hole and disappear.

Asked about the toughest player he has played in his prime and comparing Federer to Sinner, he admitted that there is only one answer and it is not the Italian despite a humbling 6-3, 6-1 loss to him at the Miami Open. The Bulgarian surges back into the top 10 after an epic week.

But despite shining in this era, it is the previous era where he had to jostle with the likes of Djokovic, Nadal and in particular Federer that takes it for him in a comparison.

“I know for me I was going to say the toughest player that I have played at his absolute prime was Roger,” responded Dimitrov candidly. “Just too funny, actually. I remember a few times even at Wimbledon, once I remember it was just — I wanted to dig a hole and disappear.

“I haven’t had that feeling yet against anyone, so I will leave it at that, I guess. Probably that’s going to be the player I felt I suffered the most with.”

But despite that, he praised Sinner in particular post match. "Clearly it's Jannik's week," Dimitrov said. "He's been playing amazing tennis. It's really impressive how he's been able to keep that way of playing."

"I feel like a lot of his matches have been like that. I think he's one speed of game right now. I think it's really working. But of course I always say every player has his little weakness," he continued. "Maybe next time when I play him I will try to do something else. But today clearly I was unable to match his game and even to match his shots. I think for a little bit I was doing well, but a lot of the important moments went his way. That makes a huge difference in a match from that calibre. It's as simple as that.

"Then also once he has a little bit of confidence or he's a break up, he becomes even more difficult to play and to even, you know, get him on the back foot."