WORDS OF WISDOM IN MONACO mountain bikes , I love going to race on the track , there ’ s so much that I like to do outside of tennis .
HM : I also read that you collect old cars ?
GD : I ’ m starting to , actually , it ’ s cool . I lived in LA before for quite some time and I think this is where I got hooked . In Monaco you always see these crazy , great , amazing cars , but I like to be different and I like different things . So , let ’ s see what the future will bring .
HM : What are some of the precious items that you ’ ve collected ?
GD : Watches . I started collecting watches when I was 18 . I still keep my first watch that I bought .
HM : But why watches and cars , not art , for example ?
GD : I have a lot of art at home , that ’ s true . I have a lot of contemporary art . Every piece that I have at home that is hanging on the wall is because it means something to me , it ’ s not just because it ’ s nice I ’ ll buy it . Whatever I have , own , or see around me is to add to me , to talk to me , I don ’ t just want to have things to have things . It adds value to me , when you come home , I have this big wall , and everyone is like : « Where ’ s this from ? Where ’ s that from ?» I like it cause it ’ s more colourful and everything has a story .
HM : What is your daily routine which you ’ ve never missed ?
GD : Some days , anywhere I am in the world , what I miss is gathering with friends and family . Everything else , in a sense , is easy . If I want to go somewhere , I ’ ll go , if I want to do something , I ’ ll do it . But it ’ s more of that spontaneous lunch or dinner , or travelling , that most basic thing that we ’ re all used to doing . I think , other than that , I have got everything .
HM : What is your perfect weekend ?
GD : I ’ m very simple , I don ’ t really go out , even back when I could . Never tried alcohol in my life . I like to enjoy occasional dinners with friends and family again . I just want more spontaneity . Drive around , have a nice cup of coffee . I love being home , just staying at home . I like to write things down . Thoughts , whenever they come to me , just keeping things very basic .
HM : If you like to stay at home , are you a family oriented man ?
GD : I like to think so . With travelling , you don ’ t feel normal , it takes me more time to readjust to being at home as well . My last match was four days ago and it still takes me time to readjust , to wake up and it ’ s like : « I got to run ! Where am I going ?» I have no gym , no tennis , no fitness . So I ’ m like : « Oh my god , I have to eat now , no I don ’ t have to eat now , I can eat in two hours ».
HM : Are you on a diet ? How do you maintain yourself in good condition , food is a big part of it .
GD : During tournaments and before the tournaments , 3 – 4 days , I ’ m always trying to eat a little more clean than usual . More basic food . Never mix foods . Gluten-free for sure , 3 – 4 days before . But nothing too extreme .
I like fish . Twice a week , have meat . I actually like sugar — chocolate chip cookies , ice cream , basic chocolate . I love it , but I ’ m not dependent to the extent that I ’ m like : « Oh my god , I need to have it otherwise I ’ ll start shaking ». During tournaments I ’ m very disciplined .
HM : Before Monaco , you trained and lived in different countries including Spain and France . Now in Monaco . What is special about this place for you ?
GD : For me , every time I come back here , I feel like I ’ m on holiday , that helps me to relax a
© ua . depositphotos . com lot . You come home , drop your bags and just want to go for a walk on the beach . You feel safe as well . You have so much privacy ; that for me is the absolute key . I never had that when I was living anywhere else . Paris was different . Sweden was actually very quiet , but still , when you go to the centre , it was very different . LA , I ’ m not even gonna talk about that . So , once I ’ m back here , it just feels like home . I think that it ’ s a very humbling feeling considering that you travel so much to be able to come to a place and call it home . A lot of athletes are not thinking about that very much .
HM : How do you react when people come and ask for an autograph ?
GD : I ’ ve learned over the years to appreciate the fans a lot differently . When you play , the atmosphere when the fans are there is completely different . Playing Madison Square Garden in front of 20,000 people is amazing . Being home in Bulgaria , same thing . Playing a New York night match , you feel like an absolute rock star , you feel immortal .
HM : Do you have a dream ?
GD : My dad always keeps telling me that « The only way to keep on going is to keep dreaming ». So I keep dreaming , every day a different dream .
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