In-depth: Will Grigor Dimitrov, aka 'Baby Fed', ever grow into the real thing?

ByEurosport

Updated 22/01/2016 at 11:22 GMT

Grigor Dimitrov's win over Andy Murray Wimbledon in 2014 was supposed to mark the arrival of the "generation next". 18 months later, the world of tennis is still waiting.

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov (L) talks with Switzerland's Roger Federer after Federer won their third round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 22, 2016

Image credit: Reuters

WHAT HAPPENED

A patient Roger Federer weathered a second set storm from Grigor Dimitrov before slapping down the Bulgarian challenger 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-4 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open and clinch his 300th win in grand slams.

Long in the shadow of the Swiss master, Dimitrov played some irresistible tennis to prise a set but was powerless to maintain the intensity under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena.

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Federer, however, simply lifted a gear, taming an occasionally wayward forehand before speeding away from the Bulgarian player nicknamed 'Baby Fed'.

Capturing an early break in the final set, four-time champion Federer sealed the match with an imperious forehand to set up a clash with another young gun in Belgian David Goffin.

'BABY FEDERER' STILL WAITING TO GROW UP

When Grigor Dimitrov ended Andy Murray's reign as Wimbledon champion with a no-nonsense quarter-final defeat at the All England Club in 2014, it supposedly heralded the arrival of the "generation next" in men's tennis.

Not quite.

The Bulgarian, who showed his all-court versatility in 2014 by winning titles on three different surfaces and climbing to eighth in the world, found the lofty expectations difficult to deal with just a year later.

Instead of breaking the dominance of the games "Big Five" of Novak Djokovic, Murray, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Stan Wawrinka, the 24-year-old's game hit the buffers and he failed to reach a single final in 2015.

Needing to inject fresh impetus into his racquet skills, he dumped Australian task master Roger Rasheed as his coach and replaced him with Franco Davin -- the former mentor of 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro.

But Dimitrov, now ranked 28th in the world, has discovered that there is no quick fix to his problems.

The Bulgarian, who has been nicknamed "Baby Fed" for possessing a game akin to Federer, was shown that his style of play was still rough around the edges as he was beaten 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-4 by the Swiss master on Friday.

And now, at the age of 24, people are beginning to wonder if this talented player will ever really deliver on the promise that he has shown in the last five years.

Grigor Dimitrov after beating Andy Murray at Wimbledon (Reuters)

Image credit: Reuters

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DIMITROV ADMITS HIS PAIN

"I'm not going to lie. Losses like that always hurt ... but I just haven't played that kind of matches on that level for a while," Dimitrov said.

"Obviously 2014 was an amazing year for me. Then 2015 was just a rough season. I had problems with the racquets ... changing the team. It takes a little bit out of you.

"Next thing you find yourself in a very tough spot. I think that's what happened with me. But I can only learn from it...

"Slowly, slowly, the pieces are coming together.

"When you lose matches against the top guys, there's a lot you can see that you can still work on. It's a good ... to see where we at right now, what we need to work on."

FEDERER'S ADVICE: 'TALENT ONLY TAKES YOU SO FAR'

"It's a little odd from time to time, I feel like he picks up the ball on the backhand and the forehand (like me)," Federer said, when asked if it's like playing myself.

"Then I started playing the wrong way at times ... It's nice playing him, it's always fair play.

"You got to work hard, even harder now these days it seems like," Federer added later when asked what he might write to a junior version of himself.

"There's more professional tennis players than ever. The depth is greater.

"Talent takes you only so far. But the rest of it is you have to teach it to yourself and learn it, get it right...

Roger Federer

Image credit: AFP

"You got to be patient, as well.

"Can't expect to win slams at 16, 17, 18 anymore these days, skyrocket through the rankings, unless you're out of this world.

"I needed to make mistakes to become the player I am today. It's been amazing. I've been truly privileged to have the experience."

RUSEDSKI'S VIEW

Speaking exclusively on Eurosport, Greg Rusedski described himself as a fan of Dimitrov, but fears that at the age of 24 we may already have seen the Bulgarian peak:

Will Grigor Dimitrov ever step up to the top level of tennis?

YesNo

Additional reporting by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters

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