Coverage: Live on BBC TV, radio and website with full coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Full coverage schedule. Jannik Sinner described his passage into the Wimbledon quarter-finals as “not possible to take as a win” after tearful Grigor Dimitrov was compelled to retire from their match.
World number one Sinner was facing the very real possibility of a surprise defeat when he was two sets behind Dimitrov, when the Bulgarian 19th seed collapsed to the ground in agony.
The 34-year-old Dimitrov, who has now retired injured in every one of his last five Grand Slam appearances, gripped his right pectoral muscle and was unable to play on after a brief medical timeout.
Italy’s Sinner, a triple major victor, is just the ninth man in the Open era to achieve seven successive Grand Slam quarter-finals. But that was an achievement he was not able to celebrate on Centre Court on Monday evening; rather, he was solely concerned with his friend’s health after a devastating finish.
Sinner, who returned for his on-court interview having helped a distraught Dimitrov off the court, stated: “I don’t take this as a win whatsoever, this is just an unfortunate moment for all of us to see.
“He has fought in the last Grand Slams with injuries a lot, so to see him again with this injury is very hard. Everyone saw by his response how much he loves the sport. He is one of the most diligent players on tour, and it is very sad.”
The 23-year-old continued, before asking the fans to join him in applauding Dimitrov and his team: “This is not the conclusion we desired to witness, and it’s very disappointing. We all wish him all the best.”
