The tennis Gods are really having it harsh on Grigor Dimitrov. After playing such good tennis in the first 2 sets, he has to see Jannik Sinner progress to the next round of 2025 Wimbledon; such is fate. It unraveled so fast, it was so anticlimactic, we couldn’t believe what happened. And as for Sinner, the World No. 1 was a man who didn’t want to win this way, seeing his opponent forced to concede a win because of injury. And the Italian could barely accept the win as he made his feelings clear in the post-match interview.

Wimbledon shared the post-match on-court interview on X, where Sinner could only be sorry for his good friend, who was leading 2 sets to love when tragedy struck. “He’s been so unlucky in the past couple of years,” Sinner said on the court. “An incredible player, a good friend of mine also … Seeing him in this position, honestly, if there would be a chance that he could play the next round, he would deserve. Very, very unlucky from his side.”

The vibrant atmosphere in the Centre Court changed dramatically when the Bulgarian had to leave the court after feeling something in the right pec. Sinner was completely outplayed and looked like he had no answer. And then the injury sealed the fate of the match. The 2-time Grand Slam Champion said something that takes a lot of guts. “I don’t take this as a win at all. This is just a very unfortunate moment to witness for all of us.”

For the neutrals, an amazing match was taking place. Everyone expected the World No. 1 to dominate or at least navigate his way against the World No. 19. However, Sinner lost the first set 6-3. Then Dimitrov again broke the 2025 Australian Open Champion to take the 2nd set. In a tight game, it was the Bulgarian’s 36 winners that tipped the scales in his favor. In comparison, Sinner had only 19.

Who knows what would have happened if the game had gone its full distance without the injuries? Mind you, Jannik Sinner also suffered an injury problem during the 2nd set. But it was not fatal to his 2025 Wimbledon campaign. On the other hand, Grigor Dimitrov has to retire, injured, from yet another Grand Slam.

Injury against Jannik Sinner means misfortune continues for Dimitrov

In his interview, Sinner did mention Dimitrov’s recurring injuries. And it’s quite a serious issue the 30-year-old is suffering from. Dimitrov didn’t play a single tournament for his Wimbledon preparations. That’s because he was nursing a thigh injury suffered in the 1st round of the French Open on May 26. In the 2025 Australian Open, the Bulgarian again got injured while playing the 1st round. It was an adductor issue that cut his campaign short.

In fact, this Wimbledon setback means this is the fifth straight Grand Slam in which Grigor Dimitrov has been unable to continue to play due to injury. In the 2024 US Open, he did reach the quarterfinals but again failed to complete the match against Frances Tiafoe after a problem in his leg. Last year at Wimbledon, it was again in the R16 that he suffered an abductor tear while playing Daniil Medvedev.

What a triumphant return it would have been had Dimitrov managed to beat Jannik Sinner, because his last full match in a Grand Slam was in the 2024 French Open when he got beaten by the Italian in straight sets. And Dimitrov certainly has the skillset to best Jannik Sinner. The Bulgarian has been to the semifinals of all the Grand Slams except Roland Garros.

And one could say Wimbledon is his forte, because when he first burst onto the scene, people saw a lot of similarities between him and Roger Federer, especially the way he executed the one-handed backhand. Besides that, there were also similarities in the forehand techniques and overall movement, which had a graceful fluidity. And we all saw against Sinner how he can dominate one of the best on the circuit.

It’s so unfortunate what unfolded tonight on centre court. And more worrying is how it impacts Dimitrov’s career.