After a strong start to last season, Grigor Dimitrov has hit a rough patch. He kicked off 2024 by winning the Brisbane International. Then, he reached the quarterfinals at both Roland Garros—his best result at this Grand Slam—and the US Open. It looked like a breakthrough year for the Bulgarian. With high hopes for more success this season, all eyes were on him! But a hip injury forced him to retire in the second round of the 2025 Australian Open. Early exits followed at other tournaments. Now, as he enters the French Open, his troubles seem far from over.
On Tuesday, Dimitrov was set to face American Ethan Quinn in the first round. He took the first two sets 6-2, 6-3 with ease. Then, trouble struck in the third set. He called for a medical timeout, clearly in pain. Ultimately, he couldn’t continue. Dimitrov lost the third set and retired from the match. As Olly Tennis highlighted on X, “NOOOOO Grigor Dimitrov retires for a FOURTH consecutive Grand Slam, this time due to a thigh issue.”
This isn’t new. He retired in round two at the Australian Open against Francesco Passaro because of that hip injury. Last year, he also retired from the US Open quarterfinals against Frances Tiafoe. He was trailing 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6, 1-4 when he walked to the net. After the match, Dimitrov said, “I think it’s a combination of everything.” He had just won a grueling three-hour, 39-minute five-set match against Andrey Rublev.
NOOOOO
Grigor Dimitrov retires for a FOURTH consecutive Grand Slam, this time due to a thigh issue pic.twitter.com/PtNT2032j2
— Olly Tennis (@Olly_Tennis_) May 27, 2025
Before that, at Wimbledon, Dimitrov slipped at 2-3 in the first set. He took a medical timeout for a knee issue. Although he played three more games, but unable to go on he stopped after 35 minutes. Now with this exit from the French Open, it’s hard to say what’s next for the Bulgarian.
He just can’t seem to catch a break. A Grand Slam title still eludes him after 16 years. It’s undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow. Will he come back with renewed energy for the grass courts? Only time will tell.
The post French Open: Grand Slam Curse Haunts Ex-US Semifinalist as Injury Woes Cause Mayhem appeared first on EssentiallySports.
