If bouncing back were an art, Grigor Dimitrov would color us impressed. Back in July, while passionately contesting the 2025 Wimbledon, the Bulgarian tennis star sustained an injury in the fourth round against eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Despite being ahead 6-3, 7-5, 2-2, Dimitrov suddenly collapsed mid-rally, clutching his right pectoral muscle. The pain proved too severe for him to carry on, forcing an emotional retirement from the match. The unfortunate setback kept him out of key tournaments, but talk about rising from the ashes, as Dimitrov has finally made a comeback.

“He’s BAAAACK !!!” wrote ATP Tour’s official Instagram page while posting the picture of Dimitrov training at the La Défense Arena ahead of his 2025 Paris Masters clash, where he is set to lock horns against French tennis star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard for the round of 64 at Center Court. With just a short time left before the match begins, it was only natural for the 34-year-old veteran to share his thoughts on his much-anticipated return to the court.

“There are a lot of good and mixed feelings in the most positive way, but it’s nice to be back with the boys and starting to challenge each other again,” Dimitrov began while speaking exclusively with ATPTour.com. “It’s been a good week for me so far, trying to get as many hours as possible on the court because this is what I’ve craved. At the same time, I’m also trying to keep things at the most basic stuff.”

Given how he left the court in tears during Wimbledon, one assumed that the former World No. 3 would be out for a long time, directly making his return next year. Though that is in his plans, the latter is eager to get his hands on the tennis racket as soon as possible. “Of course, my goal is coming back to full force next year, but it’s a great challenge for me right now just to see how the body will respond,” added the veteran.

Happiness is quite evident on Grigor Dimitrov’s face, and who are we to jinx it (In fact, touchwood alert), and rightly so, considering how the last few seasons have concluded for the Bulgarian star. For context, his devastating Wimbledon exit marked the fifth straight Grand Slam in which he failed to see a match through.

This is quite a painful run that stretches across this year’s Australian and French Open, as well as last season’s Wimbledon and US Open. It only made an impression that his body isn’t delivering at the age of 34, especially during those crucial moments, leaving his significant moments turn into nothing but heartbreak.

This would only suggest that the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion would be heaping pressure on his shoulders ahead of the game. However, that’s not the case at all!

Despite returning, Grigor Dimitrov is ‘kind’ to his body!

If nothing, Grigor Dimitrov is calm and composed ahead of his first-ever clash against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. “Overall, I’m not trying to overthink anything right now, just trying to be as kind as possible to me, to my body, and to test myself to really see what else I need to be working on, especially coming into the next season,” he said, hoping to not only get the best result but also test his fitness for the time he wasn’t there on the court.

Quite a perfect mindset before facing perhaps one of the biggest servers on the ATP Tour at the moment. Then again, it’s Grigor Dimitrov’s experience that speaks loudly. Having made over 12 appearances in the Paris Masters, the highest-ranked Bulgarian in history holds a record of 24 wins and 12 losses at this event. Sadly, his luck didn’t see him secure a title, but he did come close in 2023, reaching the finals.

So it’s only natural for one to expect Grigor Dimitrov to do well in this tournament. But of course, no pressure’s the theme ahead of his return.