From the special reporter "Vijesti"
Grigor Dimitrov has withdrawn from all three Grand Slam tournaments this season - the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon - due to injury.
In January, in Melbourne, he shook hands with Italian Francesco Passaro in the second set - he was losing 1:0. In May, in Paris, he had to congratulate American Quinn in the first round, even though he was losing 2:1.
Even at the US Open last year, he lost the match to Frances Tiafoe.
Unbelievable, but true: the 34-year-old from Haskovo ended his last four Grand Slam tournaments in pain, in tears...
There is no player on the ATP Tour who has been injured more recently than Grigor Dimitrov. He has lost 2020 matches since 12.
There is, however, something special in the tears of a once great talent, a guy who was nicknamed "baby Federer" in his younger days because of his playing style and graceful movements.
The spotlights illuminated the sacred place of world tennis, Centre Court at London's SW19 address.
Behind Dimitrov, in the royal box, sat Roger Federer, the Wimbledon record holder, watching the last match of the day, watching the guy who had long been believed to be able to succeed him.
On the scoreboard, a shocking result for Janik Siner, world number 1, a Grand Slam champion chasing his first Wimbledon - 2:0 in sets to Dimitrov.
Although he never managed to cash in on the talent that earned him his nickname long ago, he was a Bulgarian in the finals of major tournaments, he was on the highest podium once, albeit not at a Grand Slam, but at a tournament one rank below, the Final Masters, the ATP Finals.
Yet, on Monday night at the All England Club, he was on his way to the biggest win of his career. Everything was set for a special evening, but it ended as it has often ended in the past.
With tears that traveled the world, the worried grimace on Roger Federer's face, and messages of sympathy from Janik Siner.
"No, this is not a victory, I don't feel like one, I don't feel like a winner," said the Italian, who continues his Wimbledon journey after an incredible match with an incredible epilogue in which he himself had an elbow problem in the first set.
"It hurt when I served and when I hit my forehand. I'm going for a checkup today."
In the quarterfinals, he will face American Ben Shelton - a guy who is playing career tennis and is among the top eight on the London grass for the first time.
There aren't as many matches at Wimbledon anymore, but the crowds don't subside, the excitement grows - the circle is closing, the biggest matches remain.
The clash between the only remaining Briton in the men's and women's singles at Wimbledon, Cameron Norrie, against the two-time winner and current champion, the biggest favorite Carlos Alcaraz, is attracting the most attention. In the women's section, the first favorite and leader on the WTA list, Aryna Sabalenka, will take the court, who is the big favorite against 37-year-old German Laura Sigemund.
London and Wimbledon are the epicenter of tennis, just like every July - and the best thing that Great Britain can offer the sporting world at this moment, as the first sentence of the English colleague's text said.
Bonus video:
