Dimitrov Collaborates with Former World No. 3 Nalbandian

Former world No. 3 and 11-time tour title winner Nalbandian recently became part of Bulgarian tennis star Dimitrov’s coaching team. Dimitrov had begun collaborating with ex-Top 20 player Xavier Malisse at the start of this year. Together, these two coaches aim to help Dimitrov return to his best level.

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“I have known them separately before and even played against them, which helps us build a connection,” Dimitrov said in a pre-match interview in Acapulco. “It feels great to resonate with people you’ve faced on court. Although they retired over ten years ago, it’s not that long ago.”

“When I first talked with them, we started to see things similarly. I can relate to their career experiences, injuries, match strategies, and thoughts. In a way, it all happened very naturally. We are still finding our rhythm in working together since this is a new experience for all of us. But the goals and what we want to do in matches are very clear.”

In head-to-head records, Dimitrov leads Malisse 2-1, while he lost his only match against Nalbandian at the 2012 Queen’s Club. More than a decade later, former rivals have now united to pursue a common goal.

At the 2025 Wimbledon, Dimitrov had to retire while leading by two sets against Sinner due to a sudden injury. After that, he only competed in one tournament during the 2025 season. In 2026, Dimitrov has won just one match across three events so far.

“I arrived in Acapulco early because I just wanted to spend extra hours on the court,” Dimitrov’s first-round opponent is French player Altmaier. “The past few months have been tough; I haven’t been able to train as much as I wanted or play many matches.”

His 2014 title run in Acapulco, including a tough three-set semifinal victory over Andy Murray, remains a treasured memory. “I will always cherish those great memories,” Dimitrov said when asked about that time. “Every time we enter the same tournament, it’s nominally the same event but a new year. I’m always building new habits and trying to understand myself better, no matter the preparation. I hope to put these thoughts into practice on court and feel good about my condition.”

Last year’s pectoral injury, which sidelined Dimitrov for three months, also gave him a period for self-reflection and made him realize that seeking change was essential.

“Whether I like it or not, I have to make changes,” Dimitrov said. “It’s mostly work I must do for myself, especially mentally. I have had to change a lot, which has caused some psychological challenges, but that’s normal. I’m trying to find the positive side. I’ve never really been injured before or been away from the court for such a long time, so this is a new experience for me.”

(Translation by Wang Fei, Photo by Visual China)