Happy Birthday: Grigor Dimitrov, Olga Korbut and John Salley

Sport360 staff 00:33 16/05/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • (Clockwise): Olga Korbut, John Salley and Grigor Dimitrov

    Born in 1991, Grigor Dimitrov’s mother had gifted the Bulgarian infant his first racquet at the tender age of three before his father, a tennis coach, took him under his wing.  By the age of fourteen, Grigor showed promise after winning his first major junior cup.

    He then enrolled at the esteemed Sanchez-Casal Academy to better his talent with former three-time Grand slam winner Emilio Sanchez. His positive streak continued after winning the Orange Bowl U16 Singles, subsequently being named Eddie Herr International Rising Star in 2007.

    His junior career went to better strengths, particularly in Grand Slam showings where he was able to reach the quarter-finals at the Roland Garros, win at Wimbledon despite sustaining a shoulder injury and come out on top at the Flushing Meadows.

    After these successful spells, Dimitrov announced the end of his junior career to better his ATP ranking. He even momentarily overtook Tsung-Hua Yang as No. 1 although effectively concluding his junior career third.

    2014 would be his defining year following his senior Wimbledon semifinal run which resulted in a world No. 8 spot. He is Bulgaria’s most acclaimed male tennis player, being the only sportsman to be a part of the top ten in singles category. He is also the first and sole Bulgarian male player to win an ATP title in singles as well as reach doubles final.

    The 24-year-old presently sits in the 36th position and possesses four ATP singles titles.

    More sportspeople born on the same day:

    1949: Rick Reuschel was hitter nightmare in the MLB during the early 1990s. His deceptive pitching style meant pitches had various speeds and hence, hitters particularly needed to stay on their toes when “Big Daddy” entered the field. (66)

    1955: Olga Korbut, former Belorussian gymnast who is proud holder of four gold and two silver medals at the Summer Olympics for the USSR in 1972 and 1976. (60)

    1964: John Salley, former basket player now-turned talk show host who is renowned for being the first NBA play to on three different championship-winning franchises and three different decades. (51)

    1981: Ricardo Costa, the Portuguese centre-back notably spent several years with Valencia but also played in Germany, France, Greece and Qatar. (31)

    Recommended