Sinner Advances to Wimbledon Quarters After Dimitrov Injury, Djokovic Survives Scare
Jannik Sinner progressed to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon on Monday, but his advancement came amid the heartbreak of Grigor Dimitrov’s injury. The world number one was trailing 3-6, 5-7, 2-2 when the Bulgarian 19th seed was forced to retire due to a right pectoral muscle injury, leaving Sinner to reflect on the unfortunate circumstances.
The match, which had been highly competitive, took a sudden turn when Dimitrov pulled up in discomfort. Sinner rushed to his aid as the crowd offered a sympathetic ovation, but the 34-year-old could barely acknowledge the support.
“Honestly, I don’t know what to say,” Sinner commented. “He is an incredible player and a good friend. Seeing him in this position is tough. If there was a chance for him to play the next round, he would deserve it.”
This marked the fifth consecutive Grand Slam appearance in which Dimitrov had to retire, underscoring his ongoing struggles with injuries. Sinner, who had been in fine form leading up to this match, had also experienced discomfort, having suffered a fall early in the game that raised concerns about his right elbow. He plans to undergo an MRI scan to assess the extent of any damage.
In the other match of the day, seven-time champion Novak Djokovic faced a rocky start against Australia’s 11th seed Alex de Minaur but rallied to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Djokovic’s victory marked his 101st at Wimbledon, making him the third player to achieve such a milestone.
At 38, the Serbian is looking to capture a record 25th major title, which would break his tie with Margaret Court for the most all-time, while also aiming to equal Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles. Djokovic’s win was especially meaningful, given that Federer was watching from the royal box, having previously witnessed Djokovic’s struggles in their encounters.
“It’s great to have Roger, a huge champion, back,” Djokovic said. “It feels good to break the curse of losing in front of him.”
In the quarterfinals, Djokovic will face Italian 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli, who advanced by defeating former Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic.
In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek continued her impressive form, dispatching Danish 23rd seed Clara Tauson 6-4, 6-1. Despite being a five-time Grand Slam winner, Swiatek has yet to reach a Wimbledon semifinal but remains optimistic after the exits of several top seeds.
“It’s amazing to enjoy London this time,” Swiatek remarked, highlighting her improved performance at the tournament.
Swiatek’s next challenge will be against Russian 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova, who overcame Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Additionally, 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva reached the quarterfinals for the first time with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win against American 10th seed Emma Navarro, who had recently ended the reign of Barbora Krejcikova.
