ATP Tour
A lifetime of opponents chasing the net all adds up to Dimitrov becoming a ‘Pass Master’
The Bulgarian won 40.6 percent of the points when the opponent was in net in 2025
January 20, 2026
Getty Images/ATP Tour
Written by Jerome Coombe
When the opposition dared to advance in 2025, Grigor Dimitrov made them suffer. The Bulgarian led the ATP Tour by winning 40.6 percent of points when his opponents were at the net, an impressive return rate that earned him the label he deserved: master of passing.
That number speaks directly to Dimitrov’s art. Armed with one of the best backhands in the game, he repeatedly carves impossible angles, dipping the ball at the feet of an opponent or connecting outstretched volleys.
Dimitrov believes that success is based on years of experience dealing with aggressive opponents from a young age, as he learned early on how to slow down players who rush the net.
“When I was young, I always played with older boys too [those] taller than me,” explained Dimitrov. “I wasn’t that tall when I was young, and many came to the net a lot, especially some of the American players when I played as they always played serve and volley or attacked me.
“So I always liked to have goals. I liked it when something came up because I was quick to move around the court again. [could] predicting other shots in advance, knowing where to put the ball to get [an easier] The next ball comes back to me.”
It wasn’t just a touch, either. Dimitrov stayed composed in moments of great pressure, trusting his timing and feeling to find passing lanes when the court seemed closed. In a game where net rushers often expect a reward, he turned their anger into an opportunity. But how do you decide whether to hit a layup or a shot intended to set up an easy pass on the next return ball?
“It’s very difficult to know what you’re going to do, because you don’t know,” said Dimitrov. “You have a different time to make a decision… So for me, I have always focused more on football, because football gives me information, and then I hope I can make the right decision.”
Nowhere was that ability more evident than at Wimbledon, where Dimitrov’s grass court efficiency and shot making provided the best challenge. In the fourth round, he went on to win in two sets to love against eventual champion Jannik Sinner, again reducing the Italian lead with clean passes and sharp angles. It was a career full of control and creativity, cut short only by a tragic heart injury that forced him to retire.
That combination of intelligence and toughness defined Dimitrov’s season. The former No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings and Nitto ATP Finals winner also reached the semifinals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Miami, another week where his ability to draw pressure and counterpunch with precision stood out against the Tour’s elite.
Points Earned When Opposing At The Net (2025)
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