Grigor Dimitrov’s Wimbledon dream came crashing down, quite literally. One moment, the Bulgarian was dazzling the Centre Court crowd, up two sets against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The next, he was on the grass, clutching his chest in visible agony. A shocked Sinner rushed over. The crowd stood, hearts in their throats. And Dimitrov? He fought back tears as he left the court, his Wimbledon hopes shattered.

Up 6-3, 7-5, 2-2, Grigor Dimitrov was in control, playing some of his best tennis of the year. Even a 13-minute break to close the roof—blasted by Andy Murray as “ridiculous” couldn’t shake his rhythm. But then came the injury. It was cruel timing for a player who’s already battled injuries at the Australian and French Opens this year. And yet, there’s hope.

According to reports out of Bulgaria, the injury, though serious, is not career-threatening. Doctors have diagnosed Dimitrov with a partial tear of his pectoralis major. A serious yet manageable injury with the right treatment.  That also means he’ll be sidelined from three upcoming tournaments: Bastad, Toronto, and Cincinnati. But the silver lining? Early projections say he’ll be ready in time for the US Open in late August (24th August).

And rightly so. From heartbreak in London to hope in New York, Grigor Dimitrov’s story isn’t finished; it’s just paused. The tennis world waits, cheering him on every step of the way. Now the question is: how did he get injured so suddenly?

Even wounded Grigor Dimitrov refuses to back down

Grigor Dimitrov’s Wimbledon run ended most heartbreakingly. He was playing some of his best tennis, up two sets against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, when disaster struck. Early in the third set, after firing down an ace, Dimitrov suddenly clutched his chest and dropped to the grass. “My pec, my pec,” he was heard saying, clearly in pain. Sinner hurried up to look over him, and Dimitrov, having attempted to force his way through, was obliged to retire. Lastly, he walked away crying as a crowd in the Centre Court followed suit to give him a standing ovation, almost unable to raise his hand to bid him goodbye.

However, unfortunately, it was not a one-time incident. Dimitrov is now retired- a memorable streak no one desires. He also withdrew from this year’s Australian and French Open. Actually, no other player in the ATP Tour has retired as a result of injury as many times as Dimitrov, who has as many as 12. It is difficult to watch when he continues playing so strongly. The good news is that? He could fit in time to play at the US Open.

Now, looking ahead to New York, the draw hasn’t been announced yet, but if Grigor Dimitrov is seeded, he’ll likely open against an unseeded player or qualifier. That could mean a tricky test right away, maybe just maybe against someone like Ben Shelton, who made waves at Wimbledon, or rising names like Nuno Borges or Botic van de Zandschulp. If Dimitrov gets through the early rounds, things could get serious fast; he might face someone like Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz, depending on how the draw shakes out. But one thing’s for sure: everyone will be watching his return.