Grigor Dimitrov’s upset bid against top-seeded Jannik Sinner came to a screeching halt in the third set of their Round of 16 duel at Wimbledon on Monday when Dimitrov suffered an injury to his right pectoral muscle and was forced to retire from the match.
The 34-year-old Bulgarian won the first two sets 6-3, 7-5 and was tied with Sinner 2-2 in the third when he went down with the injury.
He grabbed at the right side of his chest, and the ESPN broadcast showed him saying, “my pec.”
Dimitrov left the court with trainers and came back minutes later to say he could not continue, appearing shaken by the crushing development.
Sinner, a three-time Grand Slam winner, will now face American Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
“I don’t know what to say. He’s an incredible player. I think we all saw this today,” Sinner said of Dimitrov in an on-court interview after he was awarded the victory. “He’s been so unlucky the past couple of years. an incredible player, good friend of mine also.”
Sinner added: “I don’t take this as a win at all.”
