- Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov was playing Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the fourth round of Wimbledon leading 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 in the third set.
- Unfortunately, Dimitrov became the first male player in the Open Era to retire in five straight Grand Slam tournaments after suffering what seems to be a pectoral injury.
- Dimitrov was on the cusp of a massive upset as he was a +1600 underdog to defeat Sinner, the #1 seed in the tournament and top player in the world.
It was a sad scene on Monday night at Wimbledon as Grigor Dimitrov had to retire during a match with Jannik Sinner. Dimitrov was headed towards an upset of the world’s #1 player, winning the first two sets, and it was 2-2 in the third set.
But Dimitrov suffered a pectoral injury and had to retire, becoming the first man in the Open era to retire from five straight Grand Slam tournaments.
Sinner Hurts Elbow, Survives as Dimitrov Can’t Fight Off Pectoral Injury for Major Upset
Dimitrov entered this match against Sinner, the top-ranked player in the world and #1 seed at Wimbledon, as a +1600 underdog at some tennis betting sites. Dimitrov, who was seeded 19th, was ready to pull off a considerable upset. The Bulgarian won the first two sets 6-3, 7-5, and the third set was tied 2-2. Then, disaster struck for Dimitrov.
Sinner actually hurt his elbow on a fall in the first game of the match and had to take a pill for the pain. The world #1 was in trouble, and Dimitrov was taking full advantage of his injured opponent. But then in the third set, Dimitrov hurt his pectoral muscle. He received medical attention in his chair and in the locker room, but Dimitrov had to retire.
It is not a piece of history Dimitrov would like to be a part of, but he is the first man to retire in five consecutive Grand Slam tournaments. Overall, he has 10 retirements in major tournaments. Sinner said after the match:
"He's (Dimitrov) been so unlucky in the past couple of years. An incredible player. A good friend of mine, also. We understand each other very well, off the court, too. I hope he has a speedy recovery."
Why Does Grigor Dimitrov Get Hurt So Often?
In the last five Grand Slams, these are the injuries Dimitrov has suffered:
- Wimbledon 2025: pectoral muscle, fourth round
- French Open 2025: thigh, first round
- Australian Open 2025: hip, first round
- U.S. Open 2024: Leg, quarterfinal
- Wimbledon 2024: Knee, fourth round
Only Dimitrov and his team know what his problems are. But he is also 34 years old, and tennis is an extremely physical sport. The Bulgarian has been playing at a high level for 15 years and won his first junior tournament when he was 14. It might be simply that Dimitrov’s body is breaking down.
It’s a shame because Dimitrov has always been incredibly talented, even if the results don’t show it. He has gotten to the semifinals in all the Grand Slams, except for the French Open, where Dimitrov’s best finish was in the quarterfinals last year.
Dimitrov also had to retire from the Queen’s Club Championships, just prior to Wimbledon, because of injury. Age catches up to everyone, even the great Roger Federer, whose game Dimitrov was compared to when he was younger. Only Novak Djokovic has managed to avoid any serious injury, but he has also had his ailments.
Hopefully, Dimitrov can fully recover and continue his career. He is still ranked 21st in the world, so the talent is still there. It would be nice if the Bulgarian could end his career on his terms, not because of injuries!
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