“I think I’m in a good place, but there’s still more to want from myself and for my career,” Grigor Dimitrov said as he ended his 2024 campaign on a high. The Bulgarian star had a stellar last season, as he put on impressive performances tournament after tournament. However, the new season presents new challenges and Dimitrov will have to be ready for it if he has to maintain the momentum from the last season. The 33-year-old begins his campaign at Brisbane International against Yannick Hanfmann.

Both Dimitrov and Hanfmann have been around the tour for quite some time now and know what it takes to excel at the highest level. Thus, fans can expect a crackerjack of a contest when they face each other in Brisbane.

Grigor Dimitrov vs Yannick Hanfmann: Preview

Both Dimitrov and Hanfmann have had a contrasting 2024 season. The Bulgarian star has played consistently throughout the season and hardly put a foot wrong. He is the defending champion in Brisbane, having won the title this year. Additionally, he also reached the finals of three other ATP events, including the Miami Masters. Further, in the Grand Slams, Dimitrov had a couple of quarterfinal finishes in the French Open and the US Open. The 33-year-old would be riding high with confidence.

On the other hand, Hanfmann had a forgettable 2024 season. He failed to perform consistently this year and had early exits from the tournaments. Apart from a couple of semifinal finishes, the German star didn’t have any inspiring results in 2024. He will look for redemption when he begins his new campaign against Dimitrov tomorrow.

Dimitrov vs. Hanfmann: Head-to-head

The two veterans have been around the ATP circuit for a long time now, making their professional debuts years ago. However, they have played each other just once before on the ATP Tour. Interestingly, that match came earlier this year at the Miami Open. In the third-round battle there, Dimitrov lost just one game before defeating Hanfmann. The Bulgarian star would be a hot favorite again going into the first-round clash in Brisbane.

Prediction: Dimitrov to have it easy against Hanfmann

Assessing the players’ chances, there is hardly anything going against Dimitrov. He is ranked 10th in the ATP rankings while Hanfmann is just inside the top 100 at the 96th spot. Furthermore, Dimitrov had an impressive win percentage in 2024, winning 46 matches while losing just 18. On the other hand, Hanfmann won just 20 of the 41 matches that he played in 2024.

Subsequently, Dimitrov also has a winning history against Hanfmann, which should give him an upper hand in this match. Dimitrov is expected to win this match in straight sets tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see if Hanfmann can turn the tide against a rampant Dimitrov in Brisbane. But the Bulgarian is the firm favorite.