Andy Roddick says what Grigor Dimitrov's reputation in the ATP locker room is like now as he retires hurt at Wimbledon

Grigor Dimitrov left Centre Court in tears after retiring from his fourth round match at Wimbledon against Jannik Sinner.

Dimitrov actually led world number one Sinner by two-sets-to-love before Wimbledon controversially shut the Centre Court roof.

Just four games later, Dimitrov was forced to retire against Sinner after appearing to injure his pectoral muscle.

The Bulgarian has been flooded with messages after his retirement, including Sinner wishing Dimitrov well, and Andy Roddick has revealed what his reputation is like across the ATP Tour.

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Andy Roddick says what Grigor Dimitrov’s reputation is on the ATP Tour

It is not the first injury that he has suffered this year, but Dimitrov’s latest injury appears more serious due to the nature of where it is.

Dimitrov left Centre Court to rapturous applause, with the aforementioned Roddick calling him ‘one of the most well liked guys on Tour’.

Roddick then went on to speak about the injury itself, and suggested that Dimitrov would have been thinking if he had left Centre Court for the final time of his career.

“He is one of the most well liked guys on Tour,” the former world number one said on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast. “One of the most respected. I have not seen the other side of it but has a reputation as an incredibly professional, hard worker.

“I think that is why you are seeing the reaction. We have seen a lot of people get hurt before. You don’t see it when they are two sets up a lot. You can’t hide from a pectoral muscle on a serve. And he is not young any more.

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“He has had to retire in the last five Grand Slams and does not have a reputation for being quick to shake hands at all.

“It was heartbreaking for many reasons. One the opportunity of not getting to finish off the world number one on the greatest court of all of tennis and the greatest venue of all of sports.

“He is at the point where he wants that last big moment. And two, it’s probably a torn pec. This is me playing doctor and it’s not.

“Best case it’s a pull, worst case it’s a tear. That’s not a quick thing to get over. That’s not something you can hide from as a tennis player.

“You could see it on his face. The last time I played Wimbledon I did not know if I was going to retire and I did not know I would be back. But it crossed my mind for the first time ever, as I was walking off, and nobody else know this and I didn’t get hurt, but I guarantee this is a thought for him.

“‘This is a bad injury, I have been going through a run of bad injuries. Will I be back here? Is this the way my Wimbledon story ends?'”

Grigor Dimitrov receives messages of support after Wimbledon retirement

Roddick’s claims about Dimitrov being one of the most popular players is supported by the reaction he has received from both active and former players.

Former world number four and Miami Open tournament director James Blake was one of those, calling Dimitrov ‘one of the nicest guys in tennis’.

Blake wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “Gutted for @GrigorDimitrov after seeing that. One of the nicest guys in tennis and so hard to see tonight end that way. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”

Six-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs also wrote a message of support for Dimitrov on social media, “Poor Grigor !!! Shoot….. doesn’t deserve that, man.”

World number 61 WTA player Eva Lys also appeared to comment on Dimitrov’s bad luck, having retired at five consecutive Grand Slam tournaments.

She wrote, “What a cruel sport sometimes…”

Another former doubles number one Paul McNamee also commented on Dimitrov’s bad luck, suggesting that Sinner had been given a lucky break.

McNamee said, “Grigor forced to default… how desperately unlucky … did not deserve this… Jannik gets a lucky break.”

It is currently unclear how bad this injury for Dimitrov is, as he will now undergo scans to discover the severity of the injury.

Sinner also had an injury scare of his own and could be in a race against time to be fit for his Wimbledon quarter-final against Ben Shelton.

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