Grigor Dimitrov to David Nalbandian to add: ‘It happened naturally’ | ATP Tour
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Dimitrov on Nalbandian addition: ‘It happened naturally’
The Bulgarian discusses the new coaches and previews the Acapulco race
February 23, 2026
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Grigor Dimitrov hired former World No. 3 David Nalbandian as the new coach.
Written by Jerome Coombe
A new training bomb surrounds Grigor Dimitrov as he prepares for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel HSBC presentation.
Former PIF ATP Rankings No. 3 and 11-time tour-level champion David Nalbandian recently joined the Bulgarian camp, adding more experience to the team that welcomed former Top 20 player Xavier Malisse earlier in the season. For Dimitrov, the early signs have been encouraging as he works to regain his top form.
“I knew them separately, and it helps when you’ve played with them a few times,” Dimitrov said in an ATP Media interview ahead of his run in Acapulco. “It’s nice to be able to get along with someone you’ve played with, he’s been retired for more than 10 years, but it’s not that long ago.
“In the beginning, when I entered into discussions with them, we started to see things in the same way and I could relate to them in terms of their work time, injuries, game plan, thoughts, and all that. In a way, it just happened naturally. Right now, we are still finding our footing, because it is very new for all of us, but things are very clear about what needs to be done and how the game can be done.”
Dimitrov owns a 2-1 Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Malisse and lost their one-on-one meeting with Nalbandian at Queen’s Club in 2012. For more than a decade, former rivals are now united in pursuit of a common goal.
The reset follows a frustrating 2025 campaign, in which Dimitrov was forced to retire with a sudden chest injury while leading Jannik Sinner in two sets at Wimbledon. It was a hindrance that limited him from appearing again before he focused on the new season.
With one win from his first three games this year, the 34-year-old hopes a return to Acapulco – where he lifted the trophy on his debut in 2014 – can renew his momentum.
“I came early. I wanted to make sure I got on the court a few more hours,” said Dimitrov, who opens against Terence Atmane on Wednesday at the ATP 500. “The last few months have been tough. I haven’t been able to train as much as I would have liked and I haven’t been able to get more matches.”
That 2014 run, in which he beat Andy Murray in a three-set semi-final, is still a precious memory, yet Dimitrov is more focused this time.
“I will always hold onto the good memories,” Dimitrov said when asked about that run. “Every time we enter the same competition, it’s the same competition, but in the new year, I always try to learn that new habit, no matter how I prepare myself.
“I’m always trying to understand myself. Hopefully I’ll be able to use it and make sure I feel good about it when I get on the court.”
A chest injury, which kept him out for three months between Wimbledon and Paris, also provided time for reflection. As he aims to return to the form he used to win the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals crown, Dimitrov sees an internal overhaul needed.
“I had to change things, whether I like it or not,” said Dimitrov about his injury. “It was a lot of work that I had to do for myself, a lot from a mental point of view. I had to change a lot of things and that played a mental game for me. It’s normal, though, and I’m trying to find a silver lining. I’ve never really been injured or had to be away from the game for that long, so it was very new.”
