Grigor Dimitrov has undergone surgery following his withdrawal from Wimbledon's fourth round against Jannik Sinner that left John McEnroe heartbroken.
The Bulgarian posted an Instagram update from his hospital bed, revealing that "recovery starts now" after what he described as "one of the most painful moments" of his career.
The 34-year-old world No21 had been leading by two sets when he suffered a chest injury whilst serving an ace.
Writing to his followers, Dimitrov said: "Sometimes the heart wants to keep going. But the universe has a different plan for us."
Grigor Dimitrov was left shocked after the freak injury at WimbledonReuters He thanked supporters for their "overwhelming wave of love" that had "genuinely lifted me through these hard times."
McEnroe provided emotionally charged commentary as he watched the devastating injury unfold on Centre Court.
The 66-year-old BBC commentator observed in dismay as Dimitrov collapsed clutching his chest after hitting a volley.
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"He hurt himself on that volley," McEnroe said, before adding: "It can't be again. Wow. Oh God. That's so sad."
The Bulgarian repeatedly told medics "my pec, my pec" as he received immediate attention on court.
After a brief medical assessment off court, Dimitrov returned within minutes, shaking his head to indicate the severity of his condition.
The tearful veteran then approached Sinner at the net to concede the match, unable to continue despite holding a commanding two-set lead.
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This marks the fifth consecutive Grand Slam tournament from which Dimitrov has been forced to retire mid-match.
The Bulgarian suffered first-round injury retirements at both the Australian Open and French Open earlier in 2025.
His participation in the US Open, which begins on 24 August, remains uncertain following the surgery.
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Jannik Sinner helped escort Grigor Dimitrov off court following his devastating injuryReutersThe recurring cycle of physical setbacks has prevented the former world No 3 from capitalising on promising tournament positions.
Dimitrov had appeared to be rediscovering his best form on the grass courts of the All England Club before his body failed him once again.
Sinner demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship following the match, refusing to celebrate his advancement to the quarter-finals.
"I don't take this as a win at all," the Italian stated. "This is just a very unfortunate moment for us to witness for all of us."
The world No1 acknowledged Dimitrov's recent injury struggles, saying: "We all saw his reaction, how much he cares about tennis.
"He's one of the most hard-working players on the tour. It's very unfortunate. This is not the end we wanted to see and it's very sad."