Grigor Dimitrov says having fun away from the court has helped him find his game.
The Bulgarian, who won the Brisbane International in the first week of the season, cited an unlikely source for his high level of play to start the year.
"I'm the kind of guy that I cannot just lock myself in the room and just think tennis for 24 hours,” he told reporters after winning the title. “You know, it hasn't helped me … And, since I have been here, every night I've been going to the arcades, for example—for an hour-and-a-half, been playing arcades. It's given me tremendous joy. You know, it's something so childish, if you want to say it.
"...Well, every time I was going to bed, I was like, 'Wow, that feels so good.' It's just something so small ... I played motorbikes, we played cars, basketball—I mean, I went there with my fitness coach and we were, I think, the biggest kids there."
Rather than being distracting, the 25-year-old said the opportunity to unwind is seemingly helping his concentration.