Bulgarian wonder Grigor Dimitrov beat out No. 5 in the world Andy Murray in straight sets in the quarterfinal of the 2014 Wimbledon Championship. The 23-year-old is the youngest ranked top-20 player in tennis.
Watch the video above to see his post-match interview after his win against defending Wimbledon champion, Andy Murray.
Here’s what you need to know about him:
1. He is the Best Bulgarian to Ever Play the Game
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Dimitrov has earned a spot in history as the best Bulgarian player ever to play tennis. He got the title thanks to his top 20 ranking which has never been achieved by a Bulgarian player before , along with the highest amount of prize money earned already as a 23-year-old having made of $3 million.
Dimitrov is also the only Bulgarian to have clinched an ATP title in singles and to have achieved above a third round finish at a Grand Slam tournament. In the 2012-2014 season, he has reached the third round at Roland Garros, the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
2. He Won 3 Titles on 3 Different Surfaces
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Dimitrov won three ATP titles in a row in 2014 on three different kinds of surfaces, showing his range and ability to compete under any conditions.
He won the first at the Mexico Open in March with a 7–6, 3–6, 7–6 victory over Kevin Anderson on a hard court.
His second consecutive victory was at the BRD Năstase Țiriac Trophy in April on a clay court. He beat Lukas Rosol 7–6, 6–1 to clinch the victory.
The third title he won was on a grass court at the Aegon Championships against Feliciano López with a 6–7, 7–6, 7–6 win in June.
3. He is Dating Maria Sharapova
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Dimitrov and Sharapova are tennis’ power couple. The 23-year-old talent has been dating 27-year-old Sharapova for a little over a year. The couple lives together in southern California near Los Angeles.
Dimitrov said in an interview with wmagazine.com:
It’s the best thing that could ever happen to you…But it’s not easy. With travel, media, the gym, practice, we hardly see each other. On the other hand, we truly understand each other. We know what sacrifice is.”
4. He’s the Youngest Player in the Top 20
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From the time his professional career began in 2008, Dimitrov has moved from No. 1200 to No. 13 where he sits in the rankings today. As the No. 13 ranked player in the world, he ahas become the only Bulgarian player to his top 20 in the history of tennis.
Click here to view a timeline of his progression through the rankings.
5. He Has Never Won a Grand Slam Tournament
Although Dimitrov has made it to the third round at 2013 French Open, the quarterfinals of the 2014 Australian Open and now the semifinals of the 2014 Wimbledon Championship, he has yet to clinch a Grand Slam title victory.
Watch the video above to see the highlights of his 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinals match against defending champ, Andy Murray.
