World number one Jannik Sinner refused to consider his progression to the Wimbledon quarter-finals as a victory after Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire from their fourth-round match with a serious pectoral injury.
"I don't take this as a win at all. This is just a very unfortunate moment for us to witness for all of us," Sinner said following the match, appearing to fight back tears at one point.
The Italian expressed deep sympathy for his opponent, whom he described as "a good friend of mine."
"Seeing him in this position, if there would be a chance he could play the next round, he would deserve it," Sinner added, visibly affected by the circumstances.
Grigor Dimitrov appeared to have torn his pec as he was playing
Reuters
Sinner highlighted Dimitrov's unfortunate pattern of injury setbacks at major tournaments in recent years.
"In the last Grand Slams, he struggled a lot with injury and seeing this now again, with this type of injury it's very tough," the world number one said.
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Despite these physical challenges, Sinner emphasised Dimitrov's dedication to the sport.
"He's one of the most hard-working players on the tour," Sinner noted, adding that the Bulgarian's reaction showed "how much he cares about tennis."
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Jannik Sinner, was left visibly emotional after witnessing the injury
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Dimitrov's Wimbledon campaign ended at a particularly heartbreaking time for the Bulgarian, with him two sets up leading world number one Sinner 6-3, 7-5 on Centre Court.
The 34-year-old seemed to have Sinner on the ropes and was closing in on a famous victory before injury struck.
He left the court in tears, while Sinner showed a touch of class by escorting him as fans gave a rousing applause.
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Grigor Dimitrov was left shocked after the freak injury
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Sinner paid tribute to Dimitrov's exceptional ability throughout their encounter.
"He's an incredible player. We all saw this today," the Italian said. "This is not the end we wanted to see and it's very sad.
He expressed hope for his opponent's recovery, stating: "I hope he has a speedy recovery. Very unlucky from his side. We all wish him the best."
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