Dimitrov recounts what he felt when injured against Sinner
The Bulgarian recounts for the first time and in the first person what he felt that night just before his pectoral muscle tore.
Exactly a year ago, Grigor Dimitrov suffered one of those injuries that one cannot erase from their memory. The Bulgarian was gliding across the court at Wimbledon, dominating Jannik Sinner and having victory within reach. That was when his pectoral muscle tore completely. Until now, we had not heard how everything happened. He revealed the details in a conversation with Mouratoglou and Tsitsipas for UTS.
It was a rather peculiar injury because at first, it is hard to process that a pectoral muscle can tear while playing tennis, but that's how it happened to Grigor. In this conversation, the Bulgarian mentions that he had been serving stronger than usual for a couple of days, which might have contributed to his pectoral muscle tearing that night.
This is how Dimitrov explained the moment of his injury to UTS.
Dimitrov's injury story narrated by himself
“In the previous round, I played against Moutet. We had to stop and went outside to run a bit and stay warm. I caught my finger in my pants and heard a sound like something tearing, something snapping.
Then, playing against Sinner, it was 2-1 or so. In the last few matches, I was serving great. Faster than usual. But I wasn't forcing it or anything. Everything was flowing smoothly. So, at 40-0, I said I'm going to the net, I'm having a great time.
When I served, I heard the same sound as when I caught my finger in my pants. I went to the net and wanted to volley, but my arm didn't lift completely. I thought everything was fine, but then I suddenly started feeling very dizzy. I didn't know what was happening. I had heard the sound, but I wanted to serve again.
I served wide. I don't even know how I aced him. While serving, I felt as if my arm detached from my body to the other side of the court. I felt something in the center of my chest and thought I was having heart problems.
When they took me outside and removed my shirt, the pectoral muscle was completely displaced and moving like this (gesture of moving it up and down). They told me I couldn't play anymore. I couldn't even lift my arm”.
Dimitrov had to deal with fear and insecurity upon his return, fearing that the same thing might happen again. Furthermore, at this Wimbledon, he was able to exorcise his demons by securing several notable victories and rediscovering that thrill that only triumph can bring, leaving behind the ghosts of that serious injury that marked a turning point in his career.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Dimitrov cuenta lo que sintió al lesionarse ante Sinner