Grigor Dimitrov’s coach addresses theory about heartbreaking Wimbledon injury against Jannik Sinner
Grigor Dimitrov’s coach Jamie Delgado has shared his thoughts on the decision to close the roof in the Bulgarian’s Wimbledon clash with Jannik Sinner.
In a Wimbledon fourth round encounter on Monday, Dimitrov was leading world No 1 Sinner 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 when he was forced to retire due to a serious pectoral injury.
Dimitrov, a former world No 3 currently ranked 21st, sustained the injury in the fourth game of the third set and was unable to play another point after having fallen to the ground in pain when he held serve.
It was a brutally cruel blow for Dimitrov, who had delivered an exceptional display to put himself in a fantastic position to pull off what would have arguably been the most impressive win of his career.
The popular 34-year-old star has been forced to retire mid-match due to injuries at the last five Grand Slam events stretching back to last year’s Wimbledon Championships.
The roof on Centre Court was closed following the second set, leading to a lengthy delay of around 13 minutes before the start of set three.
The move was controversial, with some theorising that the break in play could have contributed to Dimitrov’s injury by causing his body to cool down.
Andy Murray slammed the decision, arguing the match should have been played outdoors for as long as light would have allowed.
“So ridiculous to close the roof at this stage of the match,” the two-time Wimbledon champion wrote on X.
“At least an hour of light left… well over a set of tennis can still be played… it’s an outdoor tournament!”
Speaking to the BBC, Delgado — who previously coached Murray — disagreed with suggestions that the delay was a factor in Dimitrov’s pectoral injury.
“I don’t think so. I know some people might feel that way,” said the Brit.
“But Grigor actually, after the match, was [saying he was] liking when the roof went on, because he actually felt it got a little bit warmer in there, and his body loosened up a little bit more, even more than it was.
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“I guess it’s a separate question whether it should have been closed or not. I mean, 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.
“The work that he’s put in to get to this stage and play in these kinds of matches against someone like Sinner… and Wimbledon’s his favourite tournament.
“He’s of course had a bit of misfortune in pulling out of the previous Grand Slams, but he was playing so well – tactically perfect, he was obviously executing it to perfection.
“It was one of the matches of his career, and as a team, of course we thought he could push on and win that match, and who knows what goes on in this tournament? But it was a huge sadness for us.
“I think emotionally will be just as hard. It’s getting harder to pick yourself up from those lows… It’s gonna be tough, the next couple of months.
“We’re waiting for results on his injury to see how bad that is, but it’s gonna be a few weeks out for sure.”
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