Grigor Dimitrov Devastated After Injury Halts Wimbledon Upset Bid Against Jannik Sinner

SME News UK. Centre Court roof debate reignited as Andy Murray criticises closure decision; Dimitrov’s coach insists injury unrelatedGrigor Dimitrov’s dream run at Wimbledon came to a heartbreaking end on Monday evening, as the Bulgarian was forced to retire with a pectoral injury despite leading world No. 1 Jannik Sinner by two sets to love on Centre Court.The match, which had the potential to become one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, was abruptly halted during the fifth game of the third set. Dimitrov, clearly in pain, was unable to continue and left the court close to tears, comforted by a sympathetic Sinner before disappearing into the locker room.The unexpected retirement came shortly after a 13-minute pause in play, when the Centre Court roof was closed at around 8:30pm. The decision, met with widespread scrutiny, drew sharp criticism from two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, who took to social media to voice his frustration.“So ridiculous to close the roof at this stage of the match,” Murray posted on X (formerly Twitter). “At least an hour of light left… well over a set of tennis can still be played… it’s an outdoor tournament!”However, Dimitrov’s coach Jamie Delgado dismissed suggestions that the roof closure played a role in the injury. Speaking to the BBC, Delgado said:> “I don’t think so. I know some people might feel that way. But Grigor, after the match, was actually liking when the roof went on, because he felt it got a little bit warmer in there and his body loosened up even more.”Delgado acknowledged the broader debate over the use of the roof, but maintained that the injury was likely unrelated.> “It’s a separate question whether it should have been closed or not. I don’t think it made a difference in his actual injury. But it should be an outdoor tournament and you should play outdoors for as long as possible – I don’t disagree with that.”Dimitrov, 34, has now retired from five consecutive Grand Slam matches, and his emotional state post-match reflected the toll such misfortunes have taken. Delgado said his player was “completely gutted, disappointed, heartbroken.”> “The work that he’s put in to get to this stage and play in these kinds of matches against someone like Sinner… Wimbledon’s his favourite tournament,” said Delgado. “It was one of the matches of his career – tactically perfect, executed to perfection. As a team, we believed he could win that match, and who knows what might have happened from there?”Dimitrov is expected to be out for several weeks, with medical assessments ongoing to determine the full extent of the injury. Delgado admitted the emotional recovery could prove just as challenging.> “It’s getting harder to pick yourself up from these lows. The next couple of months will be tough.”Meanwhile, Sinner, who also suffered a minor injury after slipping and landing on his elbow early in the match, is due for an MRI scan on Tuesday. The Italian remains scheduled to face Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.> “It didn’t seem a tough one, but I still felt it quite a lot, especially on the serve and forehand,” said Sinner. “We’re going to check it \[on Tuesday] and then see.”As Wimbledon enters its final stretch, the debate over Centre Court roof closures and the toll of high-stakes tennis continues — with Dimitrov’s untimely exit adding another chapter to the tournament’s dramatic narrative.