Dimitrov and the ordeal suffered from his injury: "I was afraid to hit a ball again"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 30 Jun 2026 | 07.39

Grigor Dimitrov, fears and agony of injuries. Photo: gettyimages

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Grigor Dimitrov returns to Wimbledon 2026 with a mix of excitement and unfinished business. Just a year ago, he played one of the best matches of his career against Jannik Sinner, leading the then world number one by two sets to love and touching one of the most significant victories in recent years. Everything changed in an instant.

A severe pectoral injury forced him to retire when he seemed to have the match completely under control. Since then, the Bulgarian has endured a real physical and, above all, mental ordeal that he has now decided to recount with unusual honesty, in words collected by atptour.com.

Over the past twelve months, Grigor Dimitrov has struggled to find continuity. Setbacks, lack of competitive rhythm, and doubts about his own body prevented him from returning to compete at the level he had shown before that fateful afternoon on Centre Court. On the eve of his return to the All England Club, the former world number three granted one of the most personal interviews in recent years, explaining how an injury can leave much deeper scars than the visible ones.

Grigor Dimitrov and some intriguing doubts

The most striking aspect of Dimitrov's testimony is realizing that the true impact of the injury did not come immediately after leaving the court. "You start questioning everything. You start doubting absolutely everything," he confessed.

In reality, during the first few days, he was barely aware of what had just happened. "I didn't allow myself to process it at first. I thought, 'It's okay, something happened, and that's it.' I cried for two hours in the locker room, went straight to the hospital, and said to myself, 'Okay, now the rehabilitation begins'."

That almost automatic attitude eventually took its toll months later. "I didn't have time to really think about what had happened. Gradually, during the rehabilitation and when I tried to play again, I started to question if I would be able to return at a hundred percent or even serve normally. The fear crept in when I least expected it."

Dimitrov admits to feeling fearful

Dimitrov's confessions reach their toughest moment when he admits that he even feared the simple act of returning to practice. "I was afraid of the idea of going back on court and hitting the ball again. I won't lie. The first practices were extremely tough from a mental standpoint."

The problem wasn't just executing the shots. "Not only did I struggle to complete the motion, but I had constant flashbacks. It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling." Over time, he understood what had probably been his biggest mistake throughout the whole process.

"I think I didn't give myself the chance to really process what had happened. I wouldn't say it was a mistake, but something I could have done much better. I suppressed it, and it ended up hitting me months later."

This is a very unusual reflection among elite athletes, accustomed to talking only about the physical aspects of injuries. Dimitrov, however, focuses on emotional management, a much less visible but equally crucial terrain for regaining peak form.

Dimitrov appreciates the support received this past year

Amid one of the most challenging moments of his career, the Bulgarian also discovered a side of tennis he had never experienced before. "After what happened, I received more than 500 messages. It was incredible. I had never experienced anything like it." Not only did expressions of affection come from fans.

"I received messages from many players, from social media... I felt a lot of love. I truly felt all that love and am immensely grateful for it." That withdrawal left a deep mark on the circuit. Not only because of the level he was showing against Sinner but also because of the sense of injustice caused by seeing one of the best performances of his career end in the cruelest possible way.

Dimitrov sees the light at the end of the tunnel

For months, Dimitrov lived with the frustration of knowing his true level without being able to demonstrate it on the court. "The last few matches have been very important for me. I've played six matches in ten days. The last time I did something like this was almost a year ago." Now he tries to look at the situation from a different perspective.

"I'm trying to focus much more on the positive things. I'm very critical of myself and very hard on myself. I'm also working on that because it's very frustrating knowing what you're capable of and not being able to show it." He acknowledges that he still is far from feeling fully recovered, but he also understands that he must accept the moment he is going through.

"It's the reality I have right now. I must see it as it is and work from there." The Bulgarian admits that he had never before had to face a situation like this. "It's really tough when you lose a bit of control in this sport. I had never had to deal with anything like that during my career. I'm still learning... but I think I'm heading in the right direction."

Wimbledon, the stage where Dimitrov wants to start anew

Paradoxically, the place where it all began is also the chosen stage to try to definitively close that wound. Dimitrov claims he is prepared to deal with all those thoughts that still arise before competing. "I'm ready to face it. If those thoughts come, it's okay. They just need to pass."

In fact, he believes that trying to hide them would only worsen the situation. "Suppressing them is probably one of the worst enemies when you're competing." Even now, the nervousness doesn't entirely disappear.

"Just today, while I was in the car, I told the guys in the team that I was very nervous. They replied, 'But you play on Tuesday, relax.' And all I could say back to them was that I was very nervous." Far from interpreting it as a weakness, he finds in it a reason to be excited.

"That's a good thing. It means that I still care, that I still love this sport." And he concludes with a reflection that perfectly summarizes his current situation. "I'm very excited, but if it doesn't go well, it's okay. In the end, it won't be the end of the world. I'll just let those thoughts come and try my best to stay focused and mentally prepared."

A year ago, Grigor Dimitrov left Wimbledon in tears after seeing an injury rob him of the opportunity to defeat Sinner and perhaps fight for the biggest title of his career. Twelve months later, he returns as a different player. Not because he has forgotten that moment, but because, for the first time since then, he seems willing to live with it rather than continue trying to escape from his memories.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Dimitrov y el calvario sufrido por su lesión: "Tuve miedo de volver a golpear una pelota"

Grigor Dimitrov