‘The virus was hard on me,’ reveals Grigor Dimitrov as he admits ‘it’s a tough road back’ after Covid-19 battle

ATP Tour

Shahida Jacobs
July 27, 2020

Grigor Dimitrov concedes he still has a long way to get back to full fitness after being struck down by the coronavirus, saying he had all the unpleasant ailments associated with the virus.

The world No 19 along with world No 1 Novak Djokovic, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki tested positive for Covid-19 in June after competing in the controversial Adria Tour in the Balkan region.

‘I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused,’ says Grigor Dimitrov after testing positive for coronavirus

However, Dimitrov made a full recovery and returned to action over the weekend as he took part in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in France, going down against Feliciano Lopez.

The Bulgarian admits he faces a “tough road back”.

“I came in honestly with no expectations,” he told Tennis Majors. “I haven’t practiced for that long. I’m just trying to focus on the format and enjoy it.

“Clearly I’m not ready to compete at the highest level right now. The movement is getting better; everything is kind of going in the right direction but it’s still not easy to recover. I’m far (from my best level) for sure. I haven’t played tennis in over a month. The virus was hard on me. I stayed home for about a month. It’s a tough road back.”

While Djokovic was asymptomatic and made a quick recovery, Dimitrov was not so lucky and he struggled with various aches after testing positive for the virus.

“I think it’s I guess is different for everyone,” he said. “I was not breathing well. I was tired. I had no taste; no smell. Everything you could possibly think of. So it was no fun.

“To be honest I’m lucky to be on the court right now. I don’t take each day for granted. I really appreciate being here. It’s so nice that during time off you can come out and play with your competitors.”

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