Grigor Dimitrov ignited a firestorm of excitement amongst tennis fans with his comments following his victory at the 2023 Shanghai Masters. The Bulgarian star hinted at a potential reunion with legendary players Roger Federer and Tommy Haas for their one-time musical collaboration, the “One-Handed Backhand Boys.”

Dimitrov, currently ranked 19th in the world, dominated his quarterfinal match against Nicolas Jarry, securing a spot in the Shanghai semifinals. During the post-match press conference, a question about a potential reunion with his illustrious friends sent the room abuzz.

With a sly smile, Dimitrov acknowledged the possibility: “I don’t know, I just saw Roger, so I guess we’ll chat a little bit about it (smiling). I would love to, honestly, I would love to… I would really love for that one day. I believe it will. I cherish those moments so much that, maybe we’ll come up with something when you guys least expect it.”

His enthusiasm was clear, and his playful comment about “chatting a little bit” sparked a flurry of online speculation. Dimitrov further fueled the rumors by playfully revealing that despite their busy schedules, the bandmates remained close: “I think, unfortunately, our lives have gone separate ways (laughing). I mean, in a way, each in their own. I mean, we still, obviously, follow each other, and we’re excited to see how life progresses and have a sneak peak at everyone’s moment.”

A trip down memory lane for tennis fans:

The “One-Handed Backhand Boys” first made a splash in 2017 during the Indian Wells Masters. A short clip posted on Roger Federer’s social media showed the trio, including 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer, former World No. 2 Tommy Haas, and a young Dimitrov, belting out a cover of the 80s classic “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago. While their vocal talents were likely aided by auto-tune, the video, featuring David Foster (Haas’ father-in-law and a renowned music producer) on the piano, was a hilarious and unexpected treat for fans.

The video, which has garnered nearly 800,000 views on YouTube, became an internet sensation. Federer himself later spoke about the experience, admitting, “I actually didn’t know the lyrics very well, so we were reading on the iPhone. And next thing you know, it’s like, this is too funny not to put it on social media. So we put it out there. People had a blast over it, laughed at us, and I thought it was great.”

Though the song remains their only recorded effort, Dimitrov’s recent comments have reignited hope for a future performance. Fans, captivated by the trio’s unique camaraderie and undeniable talent on the court, are eager to see if their musical collaboration will continue. With Dimitrov’s evident enthusiasm and the possibility of Federer and Haas joining in, a reunion of the “One-Handed Backhand Boys” could be a delightful surprise for the tennis world.