Grigor Dimitrov made an emotional winning return to Centre Court as he defeated Matteo Berrettini in five sets to set up an all-wildcard clash with British Arthur Fery at Wimbledon.
Last year, Dimitrov’s Wimbledon campaign ended in a painful retirement as he led eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets in the last-16 on Centre Court. It was the fifth consecutive grand slam where the 35-year-old had retired from a grand slam due to injury, with the pectoral train forcing him to also miss the US Open, a withdrawal which ended a streak of 58 consecutive grand slam appearances.
Prior to Wimbledon, Dimitrov’s ranking plummeted to 146 in the world after winning just five matches this season, with the Bulgarian requiring a wildcard to enter the main draw at Wimbledon. But after making a winning return to the All England Club, the former world No 3 is now back in the fourth round after beating 15th seed Jakub Mensik and former finalist Matteo Berrettini in his last two matches.
“After the way I exited last year, I’ll never know what would’ve happened, but guess what this year I’m back here and I’m able to rewrite everything again,” Dimitrov said after his 6-3 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-3 win against Berrettini, a victory that lasted three hours and 30 minutes.
“I’m just trying to be completely honest here and vulnerable with you guys. It’s not about the winning it’s just for me to overcome every obstacle that I have in front of me.”
Up next for Dimitrov is the last British player left in the singles at Wimbledon. Fery, the 23-year-old wildcard who is through to the last-16 of a grand slam for the first time, also needed five sets to beat Zizou Bergs on Court 18.
“I enjoyed it too much, that’s why I wanted to play five sets,” Dimitrov said following his win over Berrettini. “Truly amazing to be back here, I’m just so happy. I just wanted to come and compete again and again again, as much as I could – there’s something special in the air out here so thank you.”
