Grigor Dimitrov on David Nalbandian’s addition: ‘It all happened so naturally’ | ATP Tour
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Dimitrov on Nalbandian’s addition: ‘It all happened naturally’
Bulgarian discusses new coach and previews Acapulco run
February 23, 2026
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Grigor Dimitrov hires former world No. 3 David Nalbandian as new coach.
Jerome Coombe
Grigor Dimitrov is preparing for Telecom Mexico presented by HSBC with new coaching fire surrounding him.
Former PIF ATP No. 3 and 11-time Tour Champion David Nalbandian recently joined the Bulgarian’s side, adding more experience to a team that welcomed top-20 player Xavier Malisse early in the season. The early signs are encouraging for Dimitrov as he works to rediscover his top level.
“I know them individually and it helps when you play them a few times,” Dimitrov told ATP Media ahead of the Acapulco match. “It’s nice when you can relate to the guys you played with. They’ve been retired for over ten years, but it wasn’t that long ago.
“In the beginning, when I talked to them, we really started to see similar things and I could resonate with them in terms of their career timelines, injuries, game plans, ideas, etc. In a way, it all happened naturally. Right now, we’re still finding our feet because this is new to all of us, but we have a pretty good idea of what needs to be done and how we want to approach the game.”
Dimitrov holds a 2-1 Lexus ATP head-to-head record against Maris and lost his only meeting with Nalbandian in 2012 at Queen’s Club. More than a decade later, the former adversaries are now united in pursuit of a common goal.
The reset comes after a frustrating season in 2025, when Dimitrov was forced to retire due to a sudden pectoral injury while leading Yannick Sinner in Wimbledon by two sets. The setback limited him to one more appearance before turning his attention to the new season.
The 34-year-old has just one win in his first three games this year and will hope a return to Acapulco, where he lifted the trophy on his debut in 2014, can reignite his motivation.
“I came in early. I just wanted to make sure I got a few extra hours on the court,” said Dimitrov, who faces Terrence Altman at the ATP 500 on Wednesday. “The last few months have been a little rough. I haven’t been able to train as much as I wanted to and I haven’t been able to play as many games.”
His victory over Andy Murray in an epic three-set semi-final in 2014 remains a cherished memory, but Dimitrov is firmly focused on the present.
“I will always have great memories,” Dimitrov said when asked about that run. “Every time we play the same game, it’s the same game, but it’s a new year. No matter what the new preparation looks like, I always try to develop new habits.
“I’ve been working on understanding myself. Hopefully I can really implement them and make sure I feel good when I step on the court.”
A pectoral injury ruled him out for three months between Wimbledon and Paris, giving him some time to reflect. As Dimitrov aims to return to the form he had when he won the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals crown, he recognizes the need for internal adjustments.
“Whether I liked it or not, I had to change everything,” Dimitrov said of his injury. “It’s more work I have to do on myself, more from a mental perspective. I have to change a lot of things and it’s a bit of a mental game for me. But, that’s normal and I’m trying to find the silver lining. I’ve never really been injured or been away from the sport for that long, so it’s very new.”
