In a way, Kevin King knows what Grigor Dimitrov is experiencing this week at the US Open.
You enter the tournament unsure of what to expect, not bloated with confidence. But you're eager, starving for a great result at one of the biggest tournaments of your year.
King was in that position in July at his home ATP tournament in Atlanta. The 28-year-old, with a career-high ranking of No. 162, received a wild card into qualifying from tournament officials, and then qualified to make his first ATP draw in 11 months. King had a rough first-round draw: Dimitrov.
“I knew he wasn't necessarily playing at his best. His confidence might have been a little bit down,” King told USOpen.org. “I played two matches of qualifying so I was comfortable with the conditions, felt like I was playing well. I felt like it was a good opportunity.”
King was 0-4 at tour-level, but the 28-year-old, then ranked No. 405, earned the win of his career, beating the former world No. 3, 7-5, 6-4, in front of family and friends.
“For me, being from Atlanta, that tournament is always one of the best tournaments of the year to play,” King said.
Dimitrov isn't from Queens, but the four majors remain the most important events of the year for all players, especially those burdened with unreal expectations and who have come within two wins of taking home their maiden major trophy.
Dimitrov had reached two major semifinals before Flushing Meadows, at 2014 Wimbledon and 2017 Australian Open. But he, like King in Atlanta, didn't arrive in New York pregnant with confidence. The Bulgarian was 1-7 before the season's final Grand Slam and hadn't been ranked lower—No. 78—since seven years ago. No player ranked lower than Dimitrov had been to the US Open semifinals since Jimmy Connors, 28 years ago, in 1991.
What's more, Dimitrov's well-known coaches—eight-time Slam champion Andre Agassi and 2013 US Open doubles titlist Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic—didn't even travel with him to New York.
For Dimitrov, a man who has been compared to Roger Federer and associated with the best in tennis throughout his career, this US Open semifinal run has been a solo performance.
"I don't take anything for granted, especially this tournament, this time. Yeah, I think everything is onboard. I've worked for it the past weeks. I've put a lot of, as I said, hours on the court and off the court," he said.
The 28-year-old was labeled "Baby Fed" from too early of an age because of their similar game styles. And when he didn't initially meet expectations, the crowd moved on. But in 2017, Dimitrov's best season, when he pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets in the Aussie Open semifinals, won his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Cincinnati and the ATP Finals—his biggest title to date—and finished with his best year-end ranking of No. 3, the observers returned, ready for Dimitrov to back it up, week after week.
Struggles, including a coaching split with Daniel Vallverdu and a shoulder injury ensued. But in Flushing Meadows, Dimitrov has won five matches in a row, including his first win against Federer (1-7) and now will play for a spot in his first Grand Slam title match.
He didn't see this coming, but he's ready for the moment.
"You just never know. I mean, tennis is like this. You just never know when a little bit of luck smiles at you. You also have to seize your opportunity," Dimitrov said.
King, who will be watching and rooting for Dimitrov tonight before heading to a Challenger in Cary, North Carolina, on Saturday morning, knows exactly what Dimitrov means.
"There's just a ton of factors that go into every day and each match," he said, "and I think you just have to try and give yourself the best opportunity each day when you walk on the court, and anything can happen after that."
