Daniil Medvedev soared 34 spots to a career-high No. 65 in the Emirates ATP Rankings as a result of reaching his first ATP World Tour final at the Aircel Chennai Open (l. to Bautista Agut). The 20-year-old #NextGenATP Russian was named the Tecnifibre Young Gun On The Road in 2016, having climbed from No. 329 to No. 98 in 2016 Roberto Bautista Agut rose one place to equal his career-high of No. 13 (10 October 2016) by lifting his fifth trophy in the Chennai final. It was fifth final of the past 52 weeks and seventh since October 2015. He fell in the 2013 Chennai final to then No. 9-ranked Janko Tipsarevic. Grigor Dimitrov broke a title drought of more...
Grigor Dimitrov secured his fifth ATP World Tour title on Sunday at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, defeating Kei Nishikori 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. The Bulgarian, who is in the process of returning to his top level, has demonstrated that he is well on his way after the first tournament of the 2017 season. Following his victory over Nishikori, Dimitrov's coach Dani Vallverdu assessed his pupil's preseason regimen, how he continues grow and learn and his great week in Brisbane. "Normally, the focus is never on the first week of the year, but you intend to be prepared to compete well," Vallverdu told ATPWorldTour.com. "The priority of the preseason is to create a good plan for the year. It is...
Grigor Dimitrov’s late-season resurgence in 2016 continues unabated in early 2017. The Bulgarian snapped a two-and-a-half year title drought Sunday at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, defeating third seed Kei Nishikori 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in the final. Dimitrov’s title run included three consecutive Top 10 scalps: Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals, top seed Milos Raonic in the semis and Nishikori in the final. Having lost his past four ATP World Tour finals, he finally claimed his fifth career title, his first since Queen’s Club in 2014. A former World No. 8, Dimitrov saw his Emirates ATP Ranking slip to No. 40 midway through 2016 before a heart-to-heart career reflection with coach Dani Vallverdu saw the 25 year old turn...