Dimitrov reveals he’s faced career demons

Top 10 contender Grigor Dimitrov dropped a 6-4, 6-3 finals decision on Sunday at the Stockholm as the veteran Bulgarian admitted he has dealt at times with personal setbacks and panic attacks over the course of his career.

Dimitrov lost to Tommy Paul as the American repeated his Scandinavian title from 2021.

But the popular Dimitrov, aged 33 and ranked 10th, was able to tell a story he has long kept bottled up inside.

“I had severe moments of anxiety, panic attacks,” the first player born in the 1990s to achieve at least 300 hardcourt wins earlier this season said.

“Of course, I think, you know, it helps when you can talk to people and share.

“Even if it’s another tennis player, I would say we all should be more open to each other.

“I know it’s difficult, I know it’s a very individual sport, I know it’s brutal. But I mean, we are all human in general today, and we are not different from anyone else.”

Dimitrov added: “We don’t speak about it often but I think we should. It’s not a weakness. I think it’s totally the opposite.”

Paul lifted the trophy without the loss of a set all week as he 27-year-old fights for the last spot in the eight-man season finals next month in Turin.

Paul’s finals win sent him past Dimitrov to 10th in the live rankings in the season points race.l

“I feel like every match I played a little bit better and better,” Paul said. “Today I came out playing amazing, so I was definitely happy with the performance.”

He will try and keep up his progress this week in Vienna.

“It’s a very special place for me,” the winner said.”This is where I got my first title a few years ago and to come out and play the level of tennis I did this week, it’s been a dream.”

Main photo:-Tommy Paul beat Grigor Dimitrov in Stockholm Final – by ATPTour.com