“It’s nice when you can relate to someone that you have played”: Grigor Dimitrov reflects on new coaching partnership with Nalbandian

Grigor Dimitrov returns to the Mexican Open Acapulco focused on regaining rhythm after a disrupted 2025 season. Last week, it was announced that former World No. 3 David Nalbandian would join Dimitrov’s coaching team, working alongside ex-Top 20 Belgian Xavier Malisse. Dimitrov has said that working with someone he has played against is particularly valuable, noting that it “helps when you’ve played against them a few times.”

The Bulgarian, currently world No. 44, is aiming to regain his form after a pectoral injury forced him to retire while leading Jannik Sinner by two sets at Wimbledon. Following the injury, he played only one tournament before the season ended, at the Paris Masters roughly four months later.

This season, Dimitrov has competed in three events: the Brisbane International, the Australian Open, and the Dallas Open. He started with a win against Pablo Carreño Busta, followed by losses to Raphael Collignon, Tomas Machac, and Alex Michelsen.

Dimitrov will debut in Acapulco against Terence Atmane, world No. 63. Reflecting on the inclusion of Nalbandian, he emphasised the ease of connecting with former rivals and the early clarity it has brought to his preparation.

“I knew them separately, and it also helps when you’ve played against them a few times,” Dimitrov said in an ATP Media interview ahead of his run in Acapulco. “It’s nice when you can relate to someone that you have played. They have been retired for over 10 years, but it’s also not that long ago.”

Dimitrov’s collaboration with Nalbandian and Malisse is built on shared experience and past competition. He lost his only match against Nalbandian at the 2012 Queen’s Club semi-finals, while holding a 2–1 record against Malisse, including wins in Monte Carlo and Washington in 2013.

Malisse and Nalbandian themselves faced each other seven times on Tour, with a memorable Wimbledon semi-final in which Nalbandian defeated Malisse in five sets before losing to Lleyton Hewitt in the final.

The Bulgarian explained that conversations with his new team have quickly revealed alignment in understanding careers, game plans, and recovery. “At the beginning, when I got into conversations with them, we really started to see things similarly and I could relate to them in terms of the timing of their careers, injuries, game plan, thoughts, and all of that,” the fomrer ATP Finals champion said. “In a way, it happened so naturally. Right now, we are still finding our footing, because it’s very new for all of us, but things are very clear of what needs to be done and how we want to tackle the game.”

The Wimbledon injury marked an unfamiliar challenge for Dimitrov, requiring both physical and mental adjustments. “I had to change things up, whether I liked it or not,” he said. “It was more of the work that I had to do for myself, more from a mental point of view. I had to change a lot of things and that played a little mind game with me. It’s normal, though, and I’m trying to find the silver lining. I’d never really been injured or experienced being away from the sport for that long, so it was extremely new.”

Arriving early in Acapulco, Dimitrov focused on extra practice hours to regain match readiness. “I came earlier. I just wanted to make sure I step on the court a few extra hours,” he said. “The past months have been a little bumpy. I haven’t been able to practise as much as I would like nor was I able to get more matches.”

Although Acapulco holds fond memories from his 2014 title, Dimitrov emphasises the present. “I’m always going to hold on to great memories,” he said. “Every time we step into the same tournament, it’s the same tournament, but it’s a new year. I’m always trying to build off that new habit, whatever the new preparation looks like.”

He added that understanding himself and implementing new routines with Nalbandian and Malisse is central to his progress. “I’m always trying to understand myself. Hopefully I’m able to really implement them and make sure that I am feeling good about it when I step on the court.”