Wimbledon: Dimitrov retires injured while leading Sinner by two sets

BBC News

a day ago

Update:
Date: 21:31 BST
Title: Thanks for joining us
Content: It wouldn't be Wimbledon without drama - and boy have we had plenty today.
Novak Djokovic came from behind to keep his quest to equal Roger Federer's Wimbledon title haul alive.
And Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva kept her remarkable run going by reaching the quarter-finals.
But the enduring memory will, sadly, be that of a tearful Grigor Dimitrov who appeared set for a sensational upset of world number one Jannik Sinner until injury intervened.
We'll be right back here on Tuesday morning to capture day nine of these captivating Championships. See you then.
Update:
Date: 21:31 BST
Title: 'Recurring pattern' for Dimitrov
Content: Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Wimbledon
Poor Grigor Dimitrov. Unfortunately, retiring injured is a regular pattern for the 34-year-old Bulgarian.
Dimitrov has been forced to quit 12 times since the start of the 2021 season, more than any other player on the ATP Tour.
Remarkably, he has now seen each of his past five Grand Slam appearances ended by injury.
Update:
Date: 21:28 BST
Title: What to look out for tomorrow
Content: We're really getting towards the serious end of the Championships now.
Tuesday marks the start of the quarter-final stage in the singles.
Here's a look at what's to come tomorrow.
Centre Court
Aryna Sabalenka v Laura Siegemund (13:30 BST)
Cameron Norrie v Carlos Alcaraz
Court One
Taylor Fritz v Karen Khachanov (13:00 BST)
Amanda Anisimova v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Update:
Date: 21:26 BST
Title: Today's recap
Content: What an incredible end to the second Monday at Wimbledon it's been.
If you missed it, where were you?
No worries, we've got you covered. Here's a rundown of what happened on day eight of the Championships.
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Djokovic and Shelton top best shots from day eight at Wimbledon
Update:
Date: 21:23 BST
Title: 'Dimitrov has so many ways to win points'
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
Tracy AustinTwo-time Grand Slam champion on BBC One
Grigor Dimitrov was really serving well. In the past, he has had service yips where he hasn't been able to get the right smooth motion. However, he has been serving well and moving well.
It is also his ability to hit so well on the move, he has a great feel at the net, he has an ability to anticipate shots.
There aren't that many players anymore that are so comfortable at playing in the forecourt. There are also not that many players that have his wonderful backhand slice, which is a weapon.
He has so many ways to win points and it all seemed like it was coming together.
Update:
Date: 21:20 BST
Title: 'A man who has put his heart and soul into this sport'
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
Tracy AustinTwo-time Grand Slam champion on BBC One
How well Grigor Dimitrov was playing is the hard part. You know that his game matches up so well on this surface. He has that ability to hit a heavy slice that stays down so low.
The fact that it was one serve that did it for him is the hard part. This is a man who has put his heart and soul into this sport. He works so hard and he is so fit. He crosses all the t's and dots all the i's.
It all happened on one shot. He must be so desperately disappointed because somewhere in his thoughts will have been that he was two sets up and Jannik Sinner isn't playing his best tennis.
Update:
Date: 21:16 BST
Title: 'I don't take this as a win at all' - Sinner
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
More from Jannik Sinner on BBC One after his walkover win against the injured Grigor Dimitrov:
"I don't take this as a win at all, this is just an
unfortunate moment for us to witness.
"He has struggled in Grand Slams with
injuries a lot so seeing him again with this injury is very tough. We all saw
by his reaction how much he cares about the sport and he is one of the hardest
working players on tour.
"Thank you for coming, but this is not the end we
wanted to see and it's very sad. We all wish him only the best - let's give an
applause for him and his team."
Update:
Date: 21:13 BST
Title: 'He has been so unlucky' - Sinner on Dimitrov
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
Jannik Sinner spoke courtside after Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire in their fourth round match: "I don't know what to say. He is an incredible player and we all saw this today.
"He has been so unlucky in the past couple of years. He is an incredible player who is a good friend of mine. We understand each other very well off the court.
"Seeing him in this position - if there was a chance for him to be in the next round he would deserve it. I hope he has a speedy recovery."
Update:
Date: 21:11 BST
Title: What the stats showed
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
A look at the stats shows just why Grigor Dimitrov has such reason to be absolutely devastated by that freak injury he suffered.
Not only had he matched the world number one - he outplayed him in many parts of the match.
Unfortunately the Bulgarian's huge serve - powering down 14 aces - proved to be his ultimate undoing, with what appears, to our untrained eye, to be an injury to his pectoral muscle.
Update:
Date: 21:07 BST
Title: 'In the blink of an eye his body failed him'
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
Tim HenmanFormer British number one on BBC One
Grigor Dimitrov played a brilliant two sets to be up against the world number one, but then in the blink of an eye his body failed him. He had no opportunity to continue.
It will be a strange emotion for Jannik Sinner, who will go through to the quarter-finals.
Update:
Date: 21:06 BST
Title: 'Sport can be beautiful but also horribly cruel'
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
Andrew CotterCommentator on BBC One
Sport can be beautiful but it can also be horribly cruel at times.
Centre Court rise to Grigor Dimitrov as if he won the championship because they feel such sympathy.
Jannik Sinner is spared only really by the cruel fate of sport. An extraordinary end to this match.
Update:
Date: 21:05 BST
Title: Post
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
After escorting his devastated opponent to the dressing rooms, Jannik Sinner is back on Centre for his post-match on-court interview.
As he did at the time of the injury, the world number one seems almost as disconsolate as Grigor Dimitrov. Not the way any sportsperson wants to win.
Update:
Date: 21:02 BST
Title: 'Dimitrov has been through so much'
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
Jonathan OverendBBC Radio 5 Live commentator
Grigor Dimitrov has been through so much over the last few years.
He has had to retire from the last four Grand Slams, including Wimbledon last year where he retired at this same stage against Daniil Medvedev.
This is one of the most shocking scenes I've seen in a sporting arena in recent times, just because of how sudden it was.
Update:
Date: 21:00 BST
Title: Sinner wins by forfeit
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov ret.
A tearful Grigor Dimitrov cannot continue.
The Bulgarian receives a standing ovation from Centre Court as he and Jannik Sinner depart side by side.
That will be of little consolation to the 34-year-old, who had the world number one exactly where he wanted him, only for fate to intervene.
Update:
Date: 20:58 BST
Title: 'Not way we want match to end'
Content: *Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov
Greg RusedskiFormer British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Dimitrov is playing the tennis of his life.
We didn't see this coming whatsoever. This is not the way we want this match to end.
He is holding his pectoral muscle which is a chest muscle, so let's hope he can find a solution because we don't want to see this happen right now.
Update:
Date: 20:57 BST
Title: Medical time-out called
Content: *Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov is rubbing his eyes, maybe to try to hold back tears of pain or sadness.
Jannik Sinner is over, kneeling at the changeover point, and conversing with his opponent.
We're going to have a medical time-out in the hope the trainers can somehow work muscle magic.
Update:
Date: 20:55 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov
The Bulgarian looks in real pain. It's really difficult to see how he can continue, judging by his body language.
Two sets up against the world number one, what horrible luck.
Dimitrov has been forced to withdraw from the past four Grand Slams with various injuries, including here last year.
Update:
Date: 20:54 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov
Jess AndersonBBC Sport at Wimbledon
After all that, Grigor Dimitrov has hurt himself after serving that ace!
He sits on the turf and looks to be in serious discomfort.
Jannik Sinner rushes over.
Update:
Date: 20:53 BST
Title: Post
Content: *Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-2 Dimitrov
Oh no!
Grigor Dimitrov slumps to the turf holding his pectoral area after holding serve with an ace.
Update:
Date: 20:52 BST
Title: Sinner's five-set struggles
Content: Sinner 3-6 5-7 2-1 Dimitrov*
Grigor Dimitrov might not know it but he's in an even more commanding position than he perhaps realises.
At the worst, this match is going to five sets.
Jannik Sinner has won just one of the past seven five-set matches he has
contested, against Daniil Medvedev in the final at the 2024 Australian Open. Quite an amazing stat given he's world number one.
He has also lost both five-set
matches he has contested at Wimbledon – in the quarter-finals in both 2022, when
he lost to Novak Djokovic despite holding a two-set lead, and last year to Medvedev.