Grigor Dimitrov's Ongoing Quest to Find His Own Identity as a Tennis Star

Grigor Dimitrov shed the "Baby Fed" nickname only to now be commonly referred to as Maria Sharapova's boyfriend.

Dimitrov is in Acapulco to defend his Abierto Mexicano Telcel title. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray headline the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Off the court, Dimitrov, 23, is the young accessory often found on the arm of the soon-to-be 28-year-old Sharapova. Even as defending champion and a world away from most of the ATP Tour establishment, Dimitrov competes with Sharapova for headlines.

Affectionately known as "Grisha" by his fans, Dimitrov has yet to establish an on-court identity. 

Unlike fellow young stars Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and even Nick Kyrgios, Dimitrov has yet to find his game.

Ranked No. 10, Dimitrov clearly has talent and weapons. What he lacks is a signature style all his own. Dimitrov began his career touted as a carbon copy of Federer. Dimitrov moved like Federer and even plays with an old-school one-handed backhand. 

But you can't replicate someone's spirit, who they are. That's something that develops at the core and permeates all aspects of the game. 

Take the methodical Raonic: the stoic assassin. The Canadian is going to give you big, booming and boring. Raonic strides in his old-dude's New Balance attire with a plan in hand. He's going to smack the fuzz off the balls until you can stop him. 

There's no secret or hidden agenda. Sure, Raonic works on all aspects of his game. But he knows who he is. You can see it in his walk and how he manages matches. 

Likewise, Nishikori has developed a distinctive style. Nishikori struts instead of strides. He knows he's faster and quicker than you. He's going to take the ball early and run you into submission. He'll frustrate you by making plays on what you swore was a winner. Raonic whacks you away, and Nishikori melts you down. 

Who is Dimitrov?

He's certainly no "Baby Federer," and he'll be the first to tell you. In an interview with Sam Sheringham of the BBC, Dimitrov spoke about the burden of carrying the nickname. 

"

When I started to establish myself on the tour, the Federer thing was starting to get a bit out of hand...But I think now it is starting to fade away. I've proved over and over again that I'm a different person, a different player.

"

But what kind of player?

A winner of Wimbledon as a junior, Dimitrov sometimes slips back into the faux Federer. Of course, even a fake Fed is good enough to beat most players. However, when it's crunch time—against the big names in the big moments—Dimitrov is left guessing. It's as if he's gooey at the core, a shapeshifter who under pressure gets bent out of sorts.  

At times he becomes indecisive. Few things are more detrimental to tennis success than doubt and hesitation. 

When Dimitrov is under pressure you can almost see the question spinning in his head: "Who am I?"

Is Dimitrov the brilliant player who defeated Murray in the 2013 Wimbledon quarterfinals? Or is he the doubtful player who squandered a 5-2 lead in the fourth set against Murray at the 2015 Australian Open? 

It's unlikely that defending a title in Acapulco will provide an answer. He'll know before anyone else. When or if Dimitrov comes into his own, it will be obvious.