Grigor Dimitrov Completes Unfortunate 'Retirement Grand Slam' After Another Setback

Grigor Dimitrov is among the most popular players on the ATP Tour, but some fear he is nearing the end of his career after a record-breaking streak of retirements at Grand Slams.

The 34-year-old Dimitrov's 2023 and 2024 seasons were his best since 2017, when he won the ATP Finals. The Bulgarian's finding great tennis again after so many years as a professional was admirable.

One of the negative points of his 2024 season was two Grand Slam retirements. Dimitrov reached the fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships after producing excellent tennis, but could not continue with the score at 5-3 to Daniil Medvedev.

His retirement at the 2024 US Open was even more devastating. Dimitrov got to the quarterfinal and had a more than realistic chance of beating Frances Tiafoe. Sadly, he sustained another injury and retired at 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 1-4 down.

Concerns were raised at the 2025 Australian Open when Dimitrov retired in the opening round against Francesco Passaro. Rather than his body breaking down after winning a few matches, he only made it through a set and a half in the opening round before needing to stop.

The 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist will undoubtedly face questions about his future in the sport after a fourth consecutive Grand Slam retirement was confirmed at Roland Garros. The score was 6-2, 6-3, 2-6 when he retired with a left thigh injury against Ethan Quinn.

Dimitrov has become the first man in the Open Era to retire at four consecutive Grand Slams. Although all players retire during matches at some point in their careers, the Bulgarian's setting such an unwanted record is concerning.

Although Dimitrov has proven that his technical ability is still abundant since the start of 2023, it is challenging for players to continue competing at the highest level when they reach their mid-thirties.

Dominic Thiem retired at 31 last year after never properly recovering from a severe wrist injury. Rafael Nadal retired at 38 in November, and Richard Gasquet will end his career at the same age when he is knocked out at Roland Garros.

Those men ended or are on the verge of ending their careers despite not retiring so frequently at Grand Slams. It would be interesting to know if Dimitrov plans to change anything in his off-court routine to try to avoid regular injuries.

Other players might be close to finishing their careers. Novak Djokovic admitted that watching Nadal's ceremony at Roland Garros made him think about retirement and how he would want to leave the sport he has given so much to.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka is probably even nearer to retirement. The Swiss is 40 years old, and although competing at that age is incredible, he is outside the Top 100 and mostly relies on wild cards to enter tournaments at the ATP 250 level and above.

Hopefully, Dimitrov's body will hold up at future Grand Slams, and he does not retire at a fifth consecutive major at Wimbledon. The former world No. 3 playing well without physical issues enhances tennis.