Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire in the fourth set of his 2024 US Open quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe. The 33-year-old Bulgarian later said he would embrace the “hurt” and refused to “brush off” the defeat.
Ninth-seed Dimitrov took on 20th-seed Tiafoe in an exciting clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, September 3. The American produced an inspiring performance, and the home crowd cheered for him.
Tiafoe won the first set and was close to winning the second at 6-5 but Dimitrov forced a tiebreaker and bagged the set. The 26-year-old led with another impressive performance in the third set, but by the end, Dimitrov seemed to struggle with a leg injury.
At the end of the third set, the Bulgarian called the physio and went off-court to receive treatment. His energy was not the same after returning and he had to retire soon after with the score 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 in favor of Tiafoe.
During his post-match press conference, Dimitrov was asked how he would brush off the opportunity to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, a feat he has not achieved for five years.
“I mean, for sure I take it and I hurt with it, yeah, you have to. I don’t want to just, like, brush it off, like, ‘That’s fine, no, I put it aside,'” Grigor Dimitrov said. “Of course you want to be here and fight for the trophy, but, you know, there’s always a brighter future in that sense.”
“So will I hurt? Yeah, for sure. Of course. And it should. But I just don’t want to just put it aside. I just want to also reassess myself and everything that l’ve been going through,” he added.
Dimitrov further explained his injury was due to “an accumulation throughout the days.”
Grigor Dimitrov on retiring against Frances Tiafoe in the US Open 2024 QF
Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open 2024. (Image: Getty)
Grigor Dimitrov at the US Open 2024. (Image: Getty)
During the post-match presser, Grigor Dimitrov explained that his injury against Frances Tiafoe in the 2024 US Open quarterfinal was due to playing a grueling five-setter against Andrey Rublev a few days ago.
When asked what was going through his mind regarding the decision to retire, he said he faced a similar situation at Wimbledon. The Bulgarian retired in his fourth-round match in the grasscourt Slam against Daniil Medvedev.
“You know, it’s the second Slam in a row that this happened, so, I mean, what can I say? I think I have enough experience in myself to know where it’s no point to continue any further on that, and I think it’s just simple as that. Do I like doing it? No, but that’s that,” Grigor Dimitrov said.
“I mean, that’s what I’m saying. Just real, like, accumulation throughout the days, and I think that’s why it’s clearly not an easy pill to swallow right now.”
Up next for the 33-year-old is an exhibition match lined up in Bulgaria against Novak Djokovic on September 17 organized by his foundation.