Grigor Dimitrov left a lot of sweat on the Roland Garros courts this year en route to a quarter-final, but he also left some blood in his most recent match.
The Bulgarian has enjoyed a second youth in the past 12 months, playing on an incredible level. He's been playing some of the best tennis since he peaked at number three many years ago, and that's very impressive, considering he's not the youngest anymore.
It's even more impressive when you realize that nobody saw this coming, but it's happening, and it's well deserved. There is very little luck involved; he's simply been working really hard and playing well.
Only Casper Ruud and Jannik Sinner have more wins than Dimitrov this year, and the final one of those came against Hubert Hurkacz in Paris.
For the first time in his career, he's through to the Roland Garros quarter-final, and it took a lot out of him to get there. How much it mattered to him is best demonstrated by Dimitrov diving for a ball and slightly injuring himself in the process. He bloodied his hand, which he didn't even realize at the time.
"I guess. I mean, I don't know. I was so into the match that I was not paying attention to any of that. My grip was all covered in blood. I just realized after. I don't even know at which point it happened. I was telling myself that I would need every single ball that was there. I was like no ball was passing me."
Dimitrov was also asked if there was more bruising besides the ones visible on his hands, and he admitted that his knees are pretty banged up, but it was all worth it as he's in the quarter-final of the French major for the first time in his career.
"You don't want to see my knees. They're all scratched up, but it's fine."
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