New Delhi: Top Seed Jannik Sinner was in trouble but still advanced to the Wimbledon quarter-finals after Grigor Dimitrov retired in yet another mid-match pull-out with injury.
The Bulgarian Dimitrov led 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 but suffered an injury on his right pectoral muscle in the third set and withdrew in tears after two hours of action.
It was the fifth consecutive time that Dimitrov has pulled out from a Grand Slam match, beginning with a knee injury 12 months ago in his fourth round clash at Wimbledon.
He surrendered his US Open quarter-final clash citing physical issues and at the Australian Open quit his opening round match with a groin injury. At the French Open last month, he picked up a leg injury in his first round clash and pulled out.
Sinner himself got injured when he fell down in the opening game and then found it difficult to cope with Dimitrov’s varied style in the opening two sets.
“Honestly I don’t know what to say. He is an incredible player, I think we all saw this today. He’s been so unlucky in the past couple of years,” Sinner said of his opponent.
“An incredible player, a good friend of mine also, we understand each other very well off the court too. Seeing him in this position, honestly, if there would be a chance that he could play the next round, he would deserve it.”
“I hope he has a speedy recovery. It’s very unlucky from his side. I don’t take this as a win at all. This is just a very unfortunate moment to witness for all of us,” Sinner added.
“I think already in the last Grand Slams he has struggled a lot with injuries and seeing him now again having this kind of injury is very, very tough. We all saw this with his reaction, how much he cares about the sport. He’s one of the most hard-working players on tour and it’s very unfortunate.”
Sinner has entered the quarter-finals of the All England Club for the fourth successive year and faces World No. 10 Ben Shelton, who beat Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 7-5 to reach the last eight stage for the first time
Swiatek through
Former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarters for the second time with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
The Pole trailed 1-3 in a shaky start but eventually found a way past her 23rd seed opponent in 1 hour and 5 minutes.
“Even though the beginning was pretty shaky with the double faults, I managed to play well and solid. I’m hoping she’s going to have a good recovery and a fast one,” the eighth seeded Swiatek said.
“It’s never easy to keep your focus. I know that sometimes when I wasn’t feeling well that I’d just let go of everything and it gives you a boost. I just tried to be ready for everything.”