( CNN ) -- Built like a wrestler , when Grigor Dimitrov says `` do n't call me baby , '' you 'd be advised to listen . The 21-year-old has had enough with the tennis world labeling him as `` Baby Federer '' following comparisons with 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer . After winning the U.S. and Wimbledon junior titles in 2008 , his coach Peter Lundgren at the time hailed Dimitrov as the next Federer -- a man who the former Swedish player had worked with previously . It was supposed to be a compliment -- a warning to the rest of the world that Bulgaria had unearthed a tennis player ready to emulate one of the greatest to have ever picked up a racket . But Lundgren 's comment has weighed heavily on Dimitrov 's shoulders ever since with the watching world awaiting his rise to stardom . It was Lundgren who oversaw Federer 's first 10 ATP World Tour titles and his first grand slam title win at Wimbledon at 2003 . And while Dimitrov would love to follow in the Swiss star 's footsteps , he wants to make it clear that he is his own man -- not Federer mark two . `` You know , all the comparisons , I think that I definitely want people to stop with that , '' he told CNN 's Open Court show . `` Of course we have some similarities here and there . I 'm flattered with that and actually , I thought it was really cool at the beginning . `` But with time , I 've realized what I am . It 's something that is definitely not what the other person is , so I 'm trying to build up my own style and when I 'm on court , I do my own shots . `` I think that 's eventually what everyone will see . '' Dimitrov has been plotting his rise to the top since the very first time he stepped onto a court as a child with his father Dimitar , a tennis coach in their native city of Haskovo . His single-handed backhand , which is so unusual among players of his age group , was honed under his father 's gaze . `` I actually never thought of any other sport , '' said Dimitrov , recalling his formative years . `` My father was a tennis coach and my mum was a former volleyball player , so I was in the sport area in general . `` But the only thing I was always telling my parents was : ' I just want to play tennis . ' `` Obviously , my dad showed me a few shots . I was six or seven and I was just playing regularly . '' Such was Dimitrov 's talent during his teenage years that he was soon off to France to train at the prestigious Patrick Mouratoglou Academy just outside of Paris . It was there that he began to show glimpses of his future potential , winning a whole host of junior tournaments on his way to becoming the third youngest player to break into the world 's top 100 in 2011 . But it was his decision to leave France to join up with the `` Good to Great Academy '' in Sweden last November which has helped propel his career to the next level . Working alongside ex-world No . 2 Magnus Norman and the former doubles partnership of Nicklas Kulti and Mikael Tillstrom , Dimitrov reached the Brisbane International final before losing to Briton Andy Murray in January . `` All the guys from Good to Great Academy are amazing and all of them have incredible experiences from the tour , '' Dimitrov said . `` They all have something to bring to the table so that makes it a lot more interesting . `` You take a little from this one , pick a little from that one , and then the next thing you know , you 're getting sort of completed and , that helps you during the weeks . '' While Dimitrov has yet to propel himself into the top 10 -- he has reached a career-high 28th this year -- he has begun to show signs of improvement , most noticeably during last month 's Monte Carlo Masters . The young pretender gave Rafael Nadal one of the toughest tests on clay that the seven-time French Open champion has endured in recent years . A full-blooded display against the undisputed king of the surface was eventually curtailed by defeat in three sets , but the fruits of his labor were bared for all to see . `` I had kind of rough matches in the past weeks so it gave me of course a lot of confidence , even though I lost them , '' Dimitrov said . `` I felt quite good about myself and the way I was progressing and of course , these hours in the gym . `` They 're just a must . You just kind of do it and it does n't matter if it 's Sunday or Saturday , you 've just got to do what you 've got to do . `` I mean basically , you 've got to make it . '' Away from the court , and when he 's not working out , Dimitrov has plenty of other interests to keep him busy . While he remains coy on his private life , having been linked romantically to women 's tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams in the past , he is more than happy to divulge his other extracurricular activities . `` I enjoy good food , '' he said . `` That 's one of the things . I love good restaurants and I love cars and all these things . `` We 're away for 25 weeks a year so you appreciate the time when you 're off . `` If you can get it with friends and family and you know , people around that you thought you had n't seen for a while , it 's always good . `` Of course if you get the chance to go somewhere to get a few days away here and there , I mean I 'd definitely get that . ''
Young tennis star Grigor Dimitrov wants to shed his `` Baby Federer '' tag . Bulgarian hoping to climb up the rankings from career-high 28th this year . Reveals he always dreamed of being a tennis player as a child . Talks about his love of fine food and fast cars in life away from the court .