Grigor Dimitrov Withdraws from 2025 US Open
Grigor Dimitrov has decided not to participate in the 2025 US Open due to an ongoing injury that previously forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon earlier this year. Dimitrov, a Bulgarian tennis star, had an impressive run of consecutive Grand Slam tournament appearances, marking 58 straight majors since his debut at the 2011 Australian Open. His streak was notably interrupted by a series of unfortunate retirements in recent high-stakes matches.
Recent Challenges and Injuries
The most distressing of these moments occurred during the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, where Dimitrov faced world number one Jannik Sinner. Despite a strong start, taking the first two sets 6-3 and 7-5, he suffered a significant injury in the latter part of the match and had to retire while still leading.
Before this incident, his career faced a string of challenges: he had to pull out during his match at the Australian Open against Francesco Passaro, which marked a disappointing beginning to the season. Moreover, at the previous year’s US Open and Wimbledon, he experienced heartbreak with forced retirements in critical moments. At the US Open, he reached the quarter-finals but had to withdraw against Frances Tiafoe, and at the 2024 Wimbledon, he was unable to finish a fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev.
Focus on Recovery and Future Plans
After these setbacks, Dimitrov has been focused on recovery, yet he also had to withdraw from both the Canadian and Cincinnati Opens as part of his rehabilitation process. His absence from the US Open, scheduled to commence on August 24, adds pressure as he aims to regain fitness in time for the upcoming Asian tournaments.
Dimitrov’s manager, Georgi Stoimenov, confirmed that the current ATP World No. 20 plans to compete during the Asian Swing, seeking a comeback with events beginning September 17 in Chengdu and Hangzhou. Following those, he may participate in an ATP 500 tournament either in Tokyo or Beijing before wrapping up the Asian Swing with the Shanghai Masters.
Impact on ATP Rankings
However, this pause in competition will have repercussions on his ATP rankings; currently at 20, he could drop to 24th or even lower when he resumes his career. This situation highlights the difficulties elite athletes face when injuries hinder their ability to compete at the highest levels.
