'CONSISTENCY' KEY FOR DIMITROV

Hard work pays off as Bulgarian meets 'small targets, set to get back into top 10

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Grigor Dimitrov is set to climb back into the top 10 for the first time since 2018 after beating Alexander Zverev on March 29 to seal a spot in the Miami Open final against Jannik Sinner, with the Bulgarian saying he is finally reaping the rewards of his hard work.

Dimitrov had been touted as a potential winner of the biggest prizes in tennis since becoming Wimbledon junior champion in 2008 with a style likened to that of Roger Federer, but the 32-year-old has yet to live up to his early promise.

However, he has been in fine form in recent weeks, defeating top-10 players Carlos Alcaraz and Hubert Hurkacz at the Miami Open, before claiming a 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 win over fifth-ranked Zverev in the semi-final.

"I think the consistency of beating top players, that to me is a bigger success than anything else," Dimitrov said after his win.

"If you do that, you get the ranking. If you do that, things are just getting better for you... I think the discipline brought me to this moment. There is nothing else. I didn't kind of deviate from my target.