Grigor Dimitrov's best 2014 hot shots
From marquee matches to feisty feuds, to major meltdowns and the tennis Twitter, and all of fashion faux-pas and sexy, skillful shots in between, SI Tennis' Year-End Awards have the entire span of the 2014 tennis season covered. Check back throughout the month of December to see the best and worst of the season.
Grigor Dimitrov surged through the best year of his career to quickly take the reigns from Gael Monfils as the ATP's resident shot-maker. No one delivered as frequently and reliably on the ATP Hot Shot highlight reel than Dimitrov, whose blend of athleticism, touch and creativity left everyone from fan to commentator picking their jaws off the ground. We knew he was something special when he pulled this shot off a few years ago in Basel, but 2014 was truly the year of the Dimitrov Hot Shot.
The 23-year-old Bulgarian would have monopolized our end-of-year Hot Shot awards and we couldn't bring ourselves to leave any of his wizardry on the cutting room floor. So here's a collection of the best shots and points Dimitrov offered this season:
Point of the year?
Dimitrov bests Andy Murray in a marathon point in Acapulco.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/Yj4iKHZPVEQ]
Not once, but twice
Dimitrov's back-to-back non-chalant hot shots in Stockholm.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/cFj2GJFckFI]
Athlete vs. Athlete
Dimitrov gets the better of Gael Monfils at the U.S. Open.
[tweet=https://twitter.com/usopen/status/506905054289207297]
The no-look backhand slice pass in Rotterdam.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/raE2BklE6tY]
The intelligent tweener.
Dimitrov has all the time in the world to line up this tweener in Basel, and he sets up the point perfectly, lofting it high to get a short reply.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/DzR4fDkU7pM]
No position? No problem.
He was in no-man's land on court but came up with a behind the back forehand in Indian Wells to reset the point and win it.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/8MNwrU31XHE]
It's all in the touch.
Full sprint, lunging, sliding, and perfectly feathered drop-volley.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/oEJ5jesEbDM]
The tweener with a purpose.
Again, Dimitrov is on defense but uses the hot dog shot to get his opponent out of position.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/7LDS6tE7bY0]
Hollywood-ing Haas.
Kinetic defense, improvisation and athleticism, all in one point.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/YyCbM9CBNyE]
Bulgarian physics.
Dimitrov unleashes a curler in Monte Carlo.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/B8cOppUg7Cg]
The Dive.
Not a bad way to set up match point in Rome against Tomas Berdych.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/H5_0nrV0odA]
The Wimbletweener.
Awkward but somehow affective.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/Vep_QK2flj4]
No words for this one.
You try and describe this backhand-pass-lob-stab-thingy in Stockholm.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/bSAG_5Xigb8]
The Maria Sharapova-approved backhand.
This winner at the Queen's Club made the girlfriend proud.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/59nDwDkAQfw]
Ridiculous.
We give up.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/4okvDpXJkhA]
Did we miss your favorite shot or point of the year? Post your favorites in the comments or tweet us @SI_Tennis for a chance to make our Best of Reader Submissions list.
