Here’s a little alternate trivia from this year’s Nitto ATP Finals.
Benchwarmers Grigor Dimitrov and Stefanos Tsitsipas are both former champions, triumphing on their respective debuts. They’re also the highest-ranked players in the world with single-handed backhands.
So the Bulgarian and Greek haven’t struggled for conversation this week as they’ve passed time together at the Inalpi Arena, waiting for a tap on the shoulder to step in for a qualified player in the event of illness or injury.
“Every day, we've been hitting together, and chatting a lot,” said Dimitrov, who won the finale on debut in 2017 but has not been among the Elite Eight since. “So for our friendship, and to experience something like this overall, outside of competing, I think it's great.”
Tsitsipas, who is the only player to win both the Next Gen ATP Finals and Nitto ATP Finals (2019), has also enjoyed his time hanging with Dimitrov, whom he leads 6-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
“We have been hanging out a bit. He's a cool guy. I really like him,” said Tsitsipas, who qualified for the event the past five years. “We've definitely had time to discuss a few things and to have a little bit of fun. I've never seen that side of Grigor before. Because on the Tour we’re just doing our own thing. And here it feels like it's much more chill and fun.”
[ATP AWARDS]
ATP Tour.com snagged a few minutes with the alternates during their mini media day appearance to ask some alternative questions…
ATP Tour: Grigor, you had 46 wins this year and need 41 more to get to 500. So let's script out a perfect scenario next year where you win your 500th match by winning a massive title. What’s the dream scenario?
Dimitrov: That will be the greatest thing. That's good. I like to set myself goals like that. I don't know, who knows where? Probably a Slam, it would put a nice spin on that.
ATP Tour: Could you get 41 wins by Wimbledon with a hot season?
Dimitrov: That’s a hot season. If I'm able to do that, if I have 41 wins by then, I think it will be good. Then I'm in business. But also at the same time, I always like to put myself for good targets. So, to script, I don't really want to, but do I want to get there? Absolutely.
I think this is the part I'm going to look forward to in the next season. To be able to do. Not only continue my form in that way, but being able to adapt, to change a bit more and maybe even be a bit more consistent.
ATP Tour: What is a fantasy match against a retired player you’d like to play?
Tsitsipas: I have a lot of them. I'll choose our [Laver Cup] captain, Bjorn Borg. We just have to get exposed to his game, right?
ATP Tour: How would your single hander match up against his double hander? Let’s say you both have wooden racquets.
Tsitsipas: I think with my technique, I would manage it pretty well with the wooden racquet. I have a pretty classic technique.
ATP Tour: We’re unlikely to see a rapid uptick in top players returning to the one-handed backhand. But do you think we’re now at the bottom and that we could see a gradual increase in one-handers in the future?
Tsitsipas: I think we kind of are at the bottom. My goal and vision is to bring it back. I've been mentoring a few junior players. I'm pushing them to go single-handed backhand. I'm just doing my part in that. I'm just trying to push them as much as I can, because I don't want to see the shot dead. And the only way I can do it is by inspiring the next generation to choose that.
ATP Tour: How do you sell the benefits of using the one-hander?
Tsitsipas: It’s a crazy shot. One benefit is that you have much better reach than a double-handed backhand. Of course, it requires a bit more strength and more work to perfect it. But the beauty of it is, it's one of the nicest shots in tennis. You won't find a nicer one. And I think the combination of being able to combine between slice and single-hand backhand, it's a much easier transition than when you play double-handed backhand.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]