Grigor Dimitrov was expected to play at the 2024 China Open after participating in the Laver Cup, but the Bulgarian withdrew from the ATP 500 event after experiencing physical problems in Berlin.
It's been a weird few weeks for Dimitrov, who recently started to battle health issues. The first time they showed up was at the US Open, where the Bulgarian experienced leg issues in the match against Frances Tiafoe. He ultimately retired a few games before the American could win the match, as he was leading.
He returned to the courts in his native Bulgaria during an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic and then made his way to Berlin for the Laver Cup. There, Dimitrov once again experienced physical issues during his match against Alejandro Tabilo, which he ended up winning.
According to initial reports from Berlin, Dimitrov quickly ruled himself out for the rest of the Laver Cup after his match, but the injury didn't seem serious. It was mostly him not wanting to push himself too much for what was essentially an inconsequential exhibition event.
It made sense and put his fans at ease; however, it seems like the issue could not have passed in a week because the Bulgarian withdrew from the China Open, even though it was a late withdrawal.
The way the situation unfolded, it's clear that Dimitrov was hoping to play, but in the end, it became obvious that he wouldn't be able to go.
It's unfortunate for the Bulgarian because this year might have been his best year since 2017. His level has been stable for most of the year. There were some classic moments he produced on the courts, once again delighting his fans.
The best proof of his great season is that he's in contention for a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin, even though he would need a superb finish to the season to actually get among the best eight players, being ranked 10th at the moment.
Missing events like the China Open isn't ideal for his chances, but it might not be a serious injury after all. The Shanghai Masters, an ATP Masters 1000 tournament played immediately after the event in Beijing, adds another dimension to this story.
It might just be that the Bulgarian could have played at the China Open, but it made more sense to simply rest this week and better prepare for next week when the tournament in Shanghai starts.
After all, that's a far bigger and more prestigious event with more points to be won. Now, Dimitrov will be hoping to avoid occasional minor injuries like this, especially at the age of 33.
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