Grigor Dimitrov
A tennis stylist with silken one-handed backhands, he broke through as the first Bulgarian man to win the prestigious ATP Finals.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Bulgarian tennis player·Birthday: May 16·Millennials
Biography
Grigor Dimitrov arrived on the tennis scene burdened with a weighty nickname—'Baby Fed'—for a playing style that echoed Roger Federer's grace. Hailing from Bulgaria, a nation with little tennis history, he carried its hopes on his shoulders from a young age. His career has been a narrative of sublime talent seeking consistent triumph, peaking in 2017 when he captured the ATP Finals, the year-end championship for the world's best. That victory propelled him to a career-high ranking of world No. 3, cementing his status as Bulgaria's greatest player. While Grand Slam titles have eluded him, Dimitrov's game, built on fluid movement and shot-making artistry, has made him a perennial threat and a favorite among purists who appreciate tennis as an aesthetic pursuit.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Grigor was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Grigor Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Grigor's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2017 ATP Finals, the season-ending championship, defeating David Goffin in the final.
- Achieved a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 3 in November 2017, the highest for any Bulgarian player.
- Has won nine ATP Tour singles titles, including the 2017 Cincinnati Masters, a premier hard-court event.
Did You Know?
His mother, Maria, was a former volleyball player, and his father, Dimitar, was a tennis coach who first introduced him to the sport.
He was coached for a time by former Australian Open champion and fellow one-handed backhand specialist, Roger Rasheed.
Dimitrov dated tennis star Maria Sharapova for several years, making them one of the sport's most high-profile couples at the time.
“I think the biggest win for me is to be able to wake up every morning and do what I love.”
