Grigor Dimitrov defeats Matteo Berrettini in five-set thriller to reach Wimbledon fourth round, one year after tearful exit
A year after a pectoral tear ended his Wimbledon run against Jannik Sinner, Grigor Dimitrov returned to Centre Court and defeated Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-3 to reach the fourth round.
A year after heartbreak
Twelve months ago, Grigor Dimitrov was leading eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets to love in the last 16 when a pectoral muscle tear forced him to retire in tears. The injury also kept him out of the US Open and snapped a streak of 58 consecutive grand slam appearances. His ranking fell to 146, and he entered Wimbledon 2026 as a wildcard with only five match wins all season.
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.
The match
On Saturday, the 35-year-old Bulgarian faced Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 finalist whose own career has been disrupted by injuries. Dimitrov called it "the pretty match", a tongue-in-cheek nod to both men's looks and their elegant, slice-heavy game styles. He raced through the first two sets 6-3 6-4, dominating on second serve and at the net.
Berrettini's fightback
The Italian broke early in the third set and cut the deficit. When the roof was closed, triggering a 15-minute break that visibly annoyed Dimitrov, Berrettini seized the shift in momentum. He took the third set 6-3 and then broke for 3-1 in the fourth. Dimitrov broke back but Berrettini snatched the set 7-5 to level the contest.
He played amazing in the third and fourth. I had chances but he started serving so well. I had to reframe my mind just to stay positive and say I'd get a chance.
Deciding set
Dimitrov saved his best for the fifth. A spectacular single-handed backhand down the line gave him a break and a 3-1 lead. He held serve routinely from there, closing out the three-hour, 30-minute victory with a love hold. He hurdled the net to embrace Berrettini at the end.
I'm just trying to be completely honest here and vulnerable in front of you guys. It's not about winning or losing. It's just for me to overcome every obstacle that I have in front of me.
What's next
Dimitrov will face British wildcard Arthur Fery in the last 16. The 23-year-old, through to the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time, also needed five sets to beat Zizou Bergs on Court 18. Dimitrov said he is looking forward to competing again and wants to "keep the good times rolling."
