Grigor Dimitrov is still working to make the most of his once-legendary potential

Back in 2011, in that first press conference in Melbourne, I can remember being surprised that Dimitrov wasn’t cocky. He was a thoughtful guy who answered questions earnestly, and often groped, not always successfully, for the right words to express himself. Thirteen years later, he’s still that way, and he still sounds like he’s searching hard for the right answers, in his tennis and his life.

On Tuesday, asked to reflect on his success at 32, and what he might have liked to change about his career, Dimitrov let loose with two long answers.

“There’s so much that happens in life, and there’s so much that [happens] on and off the court that some things take time,” he said. “I had to make a lot of changes in my life overall. I had to build up a new team. I had to find a way how to work smarter. I had to go through the small beliefs every single day.”

“I feel so much more humble than I’ve ever felt,” he continued, “and I think it feels like I’m starting to be more comfortable in my own skin whether I win or lose. And I think this is where a lot of good things can come from.”

Dimitrov can still sound like the wide-eyed rookie of 2011, who’s trying to learn something new from every match, believing that his best still lies ahead. He started his career as a flashy wunderkind who seemed destined to be an underachiever, but now he seems destined to finish it as one of those guys who got the most out of his game.

It won’t get easier in Melbourne; he plays local favorite Thanasi Kokkinakis next. Win or lose, though, the match will be part of his longer-term learning process. As he said in his press conference, growing up in the era of the Big Three prepared him for anything he might face now.

“I’m not complaining I played in that era, I loved it,” Dimitrov said with a laugh. “I would never give it up for anything. The experience that I gathered throughout the years and playing against these guys, my God, honestly, after that, nothing can scare you.”