Grigor Dimitrov was parachuted into play his first Laver Cup since 2018 after Rafael Andal withdrew on Thursday.
The Bulgarian has enjoyed a resurgence within the last year despite a recent spate of injuries and retirements.
After beating Holger Rune for the Brisbane title, Grigor Dimitrov was runner-up in Marseille to kick off his season with a bang.
A positive performance at the Masters 1000 in Miami, saw him knock out both his Team Europe teammates Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.
He was a quarter finalist at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, and is on track to qualify for the 2024 ATP Finals.
Grigor Dimitrov says what Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic told him at the Laver Cup
After Rafael Nadal pulled out at the eleventh hour, the Bulgarian was brought in as a far better ranked replacement.
With Team World led by John McEnroe having won convincingly last year, a far stronger European contingent is set to pose much more of a threat.
Reflecting on his first and sole Laver Cup campaign, the slick 33-year-old recalled what Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic said to him
“[Bjorn] Borg is like fist pumping me. It’s a great thing. After the first set Roger [Federer] goes on my right side, ‘alright dude that’s good tennis.’
“That kind of environment, hearing Novak [Djokovic] in the background yelling something in Serbian … was a great, great atmosphere. All the boys were phenomenal throughout the match. It was a great support overall.”
What happened to Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open?
Frances Tiafoe, set to represent Team World in Berlin, advanced to the US Open semi-final due to Dimitrov retiring mid-way through the fourth set.
The 33-year-old called the physio at the end of the third set and went off court to receive treatment after his movement clearly became compromised.
He retired just past the three hour mark to out a sour end to what was a thrilling quarter-final.
It came just weeks after the Bulgarian also was forced off the green grass of Wimbledon because of a groin injury during his fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev.
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