Grigor Dimitrov, the world No. 19, posted an emotional Instagram message on July 11, 2025, reflecting on his forced retirement during his fourth-round Wimbledon match against Jannik Sinner on July 7. Leading 6-3, 7-5, 2-2, Dimitrov collapsed in pain after serving an ace, later diagnosed with a partial right pectoral muscle tear requiring hospitalization, per *The Mirror US*. This marked his fifth consecutive Grand Slam retirement since 2020, following exits at the 2024 Wimbledon, US Open, and 2025 Australian and French Opens, per *BBC Sport*.
In his post, Dimitrov wrote, “Withdrawing from Wimbledon was one of the toughest moments in my career. Your love—family, friends, fans, colleagues, the tennis community—has truly lifted me up. Recovery starts now. I’ll be back soon. G,” per *ProFootballNetwork*. His girlfriend, Eiza González, shared a supportive Instagram story, saying, “A WINNER. He’ll come back stronger inside and out,” which gained significant attention, per *Times of India*. Sinner, who advanced to the quarter-finals, expressed empathy, stating, “He’s an incredible player and friend. This isn’t a win for me,” and was seen carrying Dimitrov’s bags off court, per *The Guardian*.
Dimitrov’s coach, Jamie Delgado, described the incident as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing Dimitrov’s career-best form with 14 aces and a 95% first-serve win rate, per *Tennis World USA*. Fans on X, like @fmolloycharity, lauded his resilience, writing, “A true gentleman of tennis, loved by all,” per. Dimitrov’s recovery could sideline him for weeks, potentially jeopardizing his US Open participation, per *Radio Times*. He plans to rest in Monte Carlo before targeting the North American hard-court swing, per *Express.co.uk*.
