Tennis star Grigor Dimitrov’s Wimbledon ended abruptly on Monday due to a right pectoral muscle injury. The No. 19 seed was holding a 2-0 set lead over top-ranked Jannik Sinner, but the injury forced him to retire from the match. Dimitrov’s struggles with injuries have become a recurring theme in his career.
Dimitrov’s injury occurred while serving at 1-2 in the third set, and he missed a low backhand volley that touched his chest. He continued playing but eventually sat down, clutching his chest, and repeating “My pec.” The Bulgarian player briefly went off court for further evaluation before returning to finish the match.
Most retirements in tennis occur when players are already behind in the match, but Dimitrov was on course for a comfortable win over Sinner. Sinner expressed empathy for Dimitrov, saying he didn’t consider this a win due to his own injury struggles. After the match, Sinner revealed he had taken painkillers after a hard fall in the first game.
Dimitrov’s Wimbledon run would have been the highlight of his late career, surpassing his 2024 Miami final upset against Carlos Alcaraz. However, his body has become increasingly uncooperative, and he has now retired from five consecutive major tournaments, a record for any man in the Open era.
The cameras captured Roger Federer watching Dimitrov’s match with an ashen-faced expression. Dimitrov had previously stated that his physical condition was the main concern for him at Wimbledon, saying “Physically is probably the number one thing I really need right now.”
Source: https://defector.com/on-the-brink-of-a-defining-victory-grigor-dimitrovs-body-failed-him