Grigor Dimitrov thankful to Andy Murray's former coach Dani Vallverdu for his recent success
"He came into the team at a very crucial moment a couple of years ago"
Thursday 16 November 2017 02:26, UK
Grigor Dimitrov said Andy Murray's former coach Dani Vallverdu "deserves a lot of credit" for his most successful year since 2014.
Dimitrov thrashed David Goffin for the loss of two games to sail into the ATP Finals knock-out stages on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, playing at an end-of-season tournament for the first time, reached the Australian Open semi-finals and won his first Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati earlier this year.
He admitted Vallverdu's influence has been vital in getting him to this stage in his career since linking up with the Venezuelan last July following a barren few years without any silverware.
"Vallverdu deserves a lot of credit," revealed Dimitrov. "He came into the team at a very crucial moment a couple of years ago. I mean, everybody that has been in my team deserves a lot of credit.
"Without that, I wouldn't be the same guy. Again, it also comes down to the whole team, of course, Dani, my family, closest friends. This is the base of everything.
"For me, this is such an important part. If I'm all good with that, in a way nothing else matters.
"It doesn't matter if I'm going to play on a Centre Court or on Court 18 if I have all that sorted out. Like this, you all have the same goal together. You strive to be better. I think automatically you build up such a bond that just things starting to come together."
The Bulgarian is guaranteed to finish top of his group at the end-of-season tournament, with second place to be decided by a sudden-death match on Friday between Goffin and Dominic Thiem after the Austrian held off a spirited fightback to win 6-3 3-6 6-4 against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Dimitrov, long touted as a potential challenger to the game's established elite, showed what all the fuss is about and, on this form, could yet challenge Roger Federer for the title this weekend.
The result means Dimitrov avoids Federer in Saturday's semi-final and will instead play the victor of Jack Sock and Alexander Zverev's match on Thursday.
The season-ending extravaganza ATP Finals ends another memorable year which will be covered via our website www.skysports.com/tennis with live blogs, reports, reaction and expert analysis as the season reaches its climax.
On the move? Head to our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkySportsTennis to join in the conversation. Who will win the World Tour Finals this year? Have your say...
