Bulgaria’s Adriano Dzhenev has made a promising start to the season and is firmly within the Top 20 of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings, having reached the quarter-finals at J500 Criciúma last week.

He has travelled as part of the Grand Slam Player Development Programme/ITF Touring Team to both Australia and South America during 2023. It is time to get to know Adriano a little better.

Describe yourself in three words? 

Hardworking, ambitious, funny

Who was your tennis idol growing up? 

Roger Federer and Grigor Dimitrov

What was your first tennis memory?

I have a lot of good memories on the court, but my first memory is my first title, because I won the first tournament I played

Who is the GOAT?

Murray, Nadal, Djokovic, Federer – I can’t say just one of them as they are all amazing

What are your ambitions for 2023?

To finish the year in the Top 10 of the ITF Junior Rankings and progress in ATP Rankings

What is the best advice you have received? 

Never give up on your dreams

Do you have any superstitions?

Yes, I have

Favourite sport other than tennis? 

Soccer

Favourite team or individual within that sport? 

Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo

Who has been your biggest inspiration?

My family

Favourite social media platform?

Instagram 

Favourite person to follow on social media?

Carlos Alcaraz

If you could have a conversation with anyone, past or present, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Maybe I will choose Alcaraz. I would ask him what the key is to progressing as quickly as him in men’s tennis

What would your dream car be?

Lamborghini Urus

What would be your favourite three-course meal? 

Pasta, seafood, exotic fruits

What is your favourite film? 

Creed

What is your favourite book? 

Andre Agassi’s autobiography

What annoys you most and why?

When things on the court are not going the way I want

What music are you into and what’s your favourite tune?

I listen to all sorts of music and don’t have favourites

What are you watching on Netflix currently?

I don’t have Netflix

Tell us something that people don’t know about you?

When I was younger I did boxing training for a while

Do you own a games console and what is your favourite game?

I don’t like console games