This is already the fifth Grand Slam in a row that Dimitrov has had to withdraw from.
Grigor Dimitrov did not want to talk. After his injury drama in the Wimbledon quarter-finals against Jannik Sinner, the Bulgarian tennis pro canceled all media activities to focus on treatment for his apparently damaged chest muscle. And Sinner, the world number one, who was on the verge of reaching the final of the grass court classic, did not want to say much either.
“I said everything on the court. It’s unfortunate for him, he played two incredible sets. That’s not how you want to end a match,” said Sinner. He said he did not speak to Dimitrov again after the match. The Bulgarian was being looked after by his team. “We are good friends, but it’s tough at a moment like that. I didn’t want to get too close.”
Michael Stich, Wimbledon winner in 1991, previously described Dimitrov’s retirement on Prime Video as a “tragedy.” The 34-year-old Bulgarian, ranked 21st in the world, was well on his way to a huge upset on Monday evening when, with the score at 6-3, 7-5, 2-2, he suddenly grabbed his right pectoral muscle after serving (and acing) and collapsed to the ground with a pained expression on his face.
Even icon Roger Federer in the Royal Box looked horrified. Dimitrov was treated on his chair, shook his head and disappeared into the catacombs for a medical timeout. The 34-year-old came back out a little later in tears and gave up. Sinner thus advanced to the quarterfinals on Church Road for the fourth time in a row. For Dimitrov, it is the continuation of a bitter streak.
Last year, he had to retire in the Wimbledon round of 16, this time against Daniil Medvedev. This was followed by injury-related withdrawals in the quarterfinals of the US Open against Frances Tiafoe, in the first round of the Australian Open against Francesco Passaro, and most recently in the first round of the French Open against Ethan Quinn.