(Getty Images)
The ATP World Tour Finals descended upon London this week, with the top eight players in the world meeting in the year-end round-robin event. Because of injuries and other extenuating circumstances, the ATP brings in alternates for the tournament — usually the next two players in the rankings — just in case a player has to drop out.
Grigor Dimitrov, the 23-year-old Bulgarian coming off a career year, was invited to be one of those alternates, thanks to his year-end ranking of No. 11. (With Rafael Nadal out of the tournament due to injury, Dimitrov was slated to be the second alternate.) But Dimitrov turned down the invitation, choosing instead to hang out in London with his girlfriend, Maria Sharapova.
Dimitrov had been teasing his plans to snub the alternate invite after he lost to Andy Murray in the Paris Masters late last month. He told L’Equipe:
“If I go, it is because I deserved to be there, not hope someone gets hurt so I get to play. So no, I don’t think it’s my thing.”
Though some disagreed with Dimitrov’s decision, I think it’s a respectable choice. He wants his first appearance to be earned, not granted. I can dig that. Sports are a meritocracy. There’s no need for backdoor help.
But after Dimitrov was spotted hanging with Sharapova in the same town as the tournament, even the ATP couldn’t help but take a fun dig at the Bulgarian.
This shouldn’t even be a debate. What a tough decision: Hang out with your smart, talented, beautiful, athletic and entrepreneurial girlfriend in one of the greatest cities on the planet, or spend time waiting in the corridors of the O2 Arena, hoping Kei Nishikori turns an ankle so you can take his sloppy tennis seconds. That’s a stumper.
