It's been a bad summer for Grigor Dimitrov.
Days after announcing that his nearly three-year relationship with tennis star Maria Sharapova was over, the struggling Bulgarian men's player has learned that Ivan Lendl will not assume coaching duties to help him get back on track after a subpar 2015 so far.
Grigor Dimitrov says breakup with Maria Sharapova will help him focus on tennis
The Daily Express reported that Dimitrov recently spent time with Lendl, who coached Brit Andy Murray to a pair of Grand Slam titles - the 2012 U.S. Open and the 2013 Wimbledon, the latter making Murray the first English champion in 77 years.
According to the report, Lendl lauded Dimitrov's ability and said that the Bulgarian has the talent to become the No. 1 player in the world. That said, Lendl told Dimitrov he wasn't willing to travel all around the world as anyone's coach again.
Maria Sharapova dumps Grigor Dimitrov after rumor of his cheating surfaces
Lendl also had turned down an offer from Tomas Berdych.
Dimitrov, who split from former coach Roger Rasheed, hired Johan Ortegen of Sweden after Lendl refused.
Dimitrov announced publicly his split from Sharapova, the five-time Grand Slam winner, late last month.
"Our paths split. We experienced wonderful moments together. I wish her much happiness and success in life and in tennis," world No. 16 Dimitrov told Bulgarian media, according to News.com.au. "Now I'm concentrated entirely on the game and I'm sure the results will soon be seen ... This is the summer of the new beginning for me."
Dimitrov, who has been ranked as high as No. 8 in the world, has a 22-13 record in 2015.
Reports from Bulgarian media indicated that the breakup may have been caused by an allegation of cheating on the part of Dimitrov with Nikoleta Lozanova, a Bulgarian Playmate of the Year.
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