Grigor Dimitrov's coach gives update on heartbreaking Wimbledon injury

Grigor Dimitrov grabbed his pec in pain before retiring injured

Grigor Dimitrov's coach Jamie Delgado has confirmed that the 19th seed will be out for at least a "few weeks" after his heartbreaking injury retirement at Wimbledon. The 34-year-old led world No. 1 Jannik Sinner by two sets when he suddenly grabbed his pec in pain and dropped to the floor at 2-2 in the third set. The physio rushed to his side, and Dimitrov left the court to attempt treatment but quickly returned to retire. Delgado has now confirmed that Dimitrov and the team are waiting for results to determine the extent of the injury. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Stay up-to-date with the latest Tennis news Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Dimitrov has now retired mid-match at the last five Grand Slam tournaments. The former world No. 3 led 6-3 7-5 and served to hold at 2-2 in the third set when disaster struck and he picked up a pectoral injury. The 34-year-old did not complete his media commitments on Monday night following medical advice. But Delgado - who has been coaching Dimitrov since the end of 2022 - has confirmed that they are awaiting test results. Addressing the Bulgarian’s sudden injury retirement, he told the BBC: “Yeah I mean completely gutted, disappointed, heartbroken. The work that he’s put in to get to this stage and play in these kinds of matches against someone like Sinner. “Wimbledon is his favourite tournament he’s of course had a bit of misfortune in pulling out of the previous Grand Slams but he was playing so well. Tactically perfect, he was obviously executing it to perfection.

Grigor Dimitrov has retired injured mid-match at five consecutive Grand Slam tournaments

“It was one of the matches of his career and as a team, we thought he could push on and win that match and who knows what goes on in that tournament? Huge sadness today for us as a team.” Delgado and the rest of team Dimitrov are now waiting on results to learn more about the sudden injury. But the British tennis coach expects a long road ahead. He continued: “I think emotionally will be just as hard because I know this year has been tough, pulling out of the tournaments he’s already had to pull out of. It’s getting harder to get yourself up from the lows. “This is one of his favourite tournaments, this is the biggest goal he has in the whole year is to do well here. He kind of feels half British, he loves the area, he loves the surface, he loves the history of the place. “So it’s going to be tough, it is going to be tough, the next couple of months. We are waiting for results on his injury to see how bad it is but it’s going to be a few weeks out for sure.”

SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Sinner also raised injury fears during the match as he slipped in the very first game of the match and later received a medical time-out on his elbow during set two. The Italian is now set to have an MRI scan and is due to face Ben Shelton in Wednesday’s quarter-final. Fellow BBC pundit Tracy Austin said: “It's gutting, it's heartbreaking. Especially because most people going into that, even though Grigor plays so well on grass and has been playing well this tournament, Sinner was the favourite. “Then Sinner fell on his elbow and he's going to get a scan today because he was shaking his arm. So Grigor is up two sets to love and serving big, really big, 130mph and seems to be completely fine.” Delgado added: “In the French Open he had to withdraw, that was in the first round so that didn't hurt quite as much. He was a set up and felt something in the second game of the second set. That one hurt a lot of course because it's a Grand Slam but this one hurt even more. “It's for a place in the quarter-finals, to maybe beat the world No.1. We saw Jannik looking at his elbow a little bit and we were like 'Grigor just keep your focus.' Because we didn't want him to lose his way at that point, which can happen. He was doing great, playing well. Obviously he still would've needed to get over the line which wouldn't have been easy but he was well on track.” To be the first to receive the latest Wimbledon news, join our WhatsApp community or Wimbledon newsletter

Click here to read article