Grigor Dimitrov opens up about crying after Paris Masters title loss to Novak Djokovic, says he is "not ashamed" of the tears 

Grigor Dimitrov came up short against Novak Djokovic in the final of the recent Paris Masters, losing the match 6-4, 6-3. During the post-match press conference, Dimitrov openly discussed his emotional reaction to the loss.

"It's difficult to explain emotions, I think," he said. "You want it. You know, it's tough when it doesn't happen."

"I mean, I'm not ashamed of them," he added. "It just happened. I'm sad. Of course I'm sad that I lost. It's never fun when you lose in a final. I think for me now I have some time to reflect and move on."

He went on to explain that the tears were not a sign of negativity but rather an expression of his hard work and the journey that he has had over the past few months, both on and off the court.

“Those are happy tears. I'm human, after all," he said.

Dimitrov was candid about his admiration for Djokovic’s game, acknowledging the Serb's remarkable skill during the match. He said:

“Novak in the finals is probably one of the biggest achievements you can have in our sport to beat him.”

Despite the loss, the Bulgarian is looking at the positives and focusing on the future. Reflecting on his performances prior to the final, Grigor Dimitrov said it was an "amazing week" filled with “a lot of good wins” and “a lot of positive takeaways."

Looking ahead, Dimitrov shared an optimistic outlook for 2024. He did not reveal much but emphasized his desire to be in similar competitive situations.

He said he wants to “capitalize on those moments” and continue improving his game.

Grigor Dimitrov's defeat gave Novak Djokovic his 7th Paris Masters title

Grigor Dimitorv falls to Novak Djokovic at Paris Masters finals 2023

Before reaching the finals, Novak Djokovic had a tough match against Andrey Rublev but won with a score of 5-7, 7-6[3], 7-5. Dimitrov also faced a challenge from Stefanos Tsitsipas, pulling through with a score of 6-3, 6-7[1], 7-6[3].

Djokovic's 6-4, 6-3 win over Dimitrov gave him his seventh Paris Masters title and 40th Masters 1000 title. The win also widened the points gap between him and Carlos Alcaraz in the race for the World No. 1 spot to 1,490 points.

Djokovic's strong start put Dimitrov on the back foot. Despite Dimitrov’s efforts, Djokovic's serve proved too strong to break.

Djokovic’s confidence grew in the sixth game of the second set as Dimitrov made a string of errors. Djokovic took advantage and extended his lead to 4-2.

He continued his strong play and wrapped up the match when Dimitrov’s final backhand went out of bounds. With this win, Djokovic is on track to finish the year as the top-ranked player for a record-extending eighth time.