site.btaTennis Player Ivan Ivanov to Compete in Next Edition of Wimbledon in Men's Singles

The second-ever representative of Bulgaria to win the Wimbledon Junior Championships, Ivan Ivanov, will play in next year's tennis tournament in the men's singles. Speaking to journalists at the Bulgarian National Tennis Centre here on Monday, the 16-year-old tennis player said he would take advantage of the right he obtained by winning the Junior Championships in London on July 13.

The only other Bulgarian to have won the Wimbledon Junior Championships is Grigor Dimitrov, back in 2008. 

At the Bulgarian National Tennis Centre, Ivanov was greeted by a group of children practicing tennis, who gifted him the Bulgarian flag and wished him health and many more successes. "Being greeted like this is a dream of mine, and it is truly something unique. Only in my wildest dreams did I imagine I could win Wimbledon. The final was like a dream that kept repeating itself. During the match, I was very relaxed, but when I won, I still could not believe it, because I still felt like all of that was just a dream. Of course, that was just one tournament in which I developed my game. I continue my development. This is a unique success for me, but it is just a part of a long road," Ivanov commented.

In his words, the step between junior and men's singles is one of the hardest for a tennis player at his age. However, that is one of the other goals he has to achieve to become one of the top professional tennis players.

He described Grigor Dimitrov as an idol of his and a person he has always looked up to. Ivanov expressed gratitude to Dimitrov for calling him after the Wimbledon final despite being in hospital at the time.

Ivanov also got a phone call from Spanish former professional tennis player Rafael Nadal, who said Ivanov has proven to him he has potential. He suggested that once Ivanov returns to Spain, where the Bulgarian trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy, the two of them could play a match and see who is better. 

Ivanov also told journalists that he would play for Bulgaria at the Davis Cup tournament in September. "I cannot wait for the matches against Finland in Plovdiv," he added. His short-term plans are related to the US Open Championships and the tournament of the best eight junior players in Chengdu. 

"Wimbledon is my biggest success to date, but I hope it will be just one of many. I need to keep training, not relax. I know fans can always be disappointed with my performance, but I play tennis, I enjoy it and I do not do it for anyone else, I do it because I enjoy it. For me, that enjoyment takes priority over everything else. The Bulgarian flag is what I fight for. To fly the Bulgarian flag at Wimbledon is an extraordinary privilege. If I have the opportunity, I will try to help other Bulgarian to reach the Rafa Nadal Academy. This is one of the best ways to become a professional. Nadal's school is the best for me, and that is where I can develop the most. We need to support tennis more ourselves. I hope my success will inspire more kids to play tennis," Ivanov said.