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Day eight is complete as the second week begins at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.
Men's top seed Jannik Sinner (1) advanced to the last eight after 19th seed Grigor Dimitrov, 34, had to withdraw due to injury on Centre Court despite being two sets up and close to a stunning, shock victory.
Earlier, there were wins for U.S. star Ben Shelton (10), Novak Djokovic (6), Mirra Andreeva (7), Iga Świątek (8), Liudmila Samsonova (19), Flavio Cobolli (22) and Belinda Bencic. Sunday's victors will join them in the quarters.
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There are few players more popular than Dimitrov, who is such a positive, generous soul despite so many heartbreaks during his career. Few as cruel as this one, though.
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Completely heartbreaking moment for Dimitrov as he’s forced to retire. He was playing some outstanding tennis. The crowd here are dazed, sad and confused. He leaves the court with Sinner, who now has to return for an interview of a match he was trailing in.
Jannik Sinner, who technically progresses today, was sporting in his post-match interview.
He said: “He's been so unlucky in the past couple of years. Incredible player, we understand each other off the court too.
“There was a chance he could have played the next round, and he would have deserved it. I hope he has a speedy recovery. Very, very unlucky from his side. I don't take this as a win at all.
“A very unfortunate moment. He has struggled a lot with injuries, having this kind of injury is very, very tough. You can see how much he cares about the sport.
“He is one of the most hard-working players on tour. It's not the end we wanted to see, let's give some applause for him and hopefully he gets better.”
That's it!
Grigor Dimitrov has shaken the hand of Jannik Sinner and the umpire.
Such a dreadful shame, given the fantastic position he was in.
Yep, Grigor Dimitrov has trudged off the court to receive some more medical treatment.
Jannik Sinner wanders over to have a chat to his box.
A brief delay in proceedings now.
I mentioned Dimitrov had to retire hurt from his last four Grand Slams.
Please say that's not about to happen here as Dimitrov receives treatment after feeling his chest having just hit an ace to hold for 2-2.
It doesn't look good for a man who's had more than his fair share of bad luck in his career.
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A shame for Grigor Dimitrov, who looks in pain.
Opponent Jannik Sinner saw his issues and came over to offer a consoling word or two. Sporting from the Italian, good to see.
Dimitrov now getting some treatment on his chair between the games.
Sinner looks over, concerned.
Sinner 3-6, 5-7, *2-2 Dimitrov
A real crowd-pleaser, Dimitrov. The 34-year-old pushes Sinner deep and wide, great return, drop shot, great retrieval, but Dimitrov is one step ahead and plops it away. Too good. Then 30-0.
He has lots of solutions, Dimitrov, lots of shots in his arsenal, and lots of ways to win points. Far from a ‘serve bot’, though he accelerates to 40-0 after a big serve.
Ace! He holds.
Oh no, Dimitrov is down after that serve. He's clutching around his ribs on his right side, his pectoral muscles maybe. Just below his armpit.
Sinner 3-6, 5-7, 2-1* Dimitrov
Big serve, 15-0, then a lovely shot from Sinner, drawing a ‘bello’ from the Italian journalist sat behind me and a brief clap on his racket from Dimitrov.
A risky slice, 40-0. Dimitrov certainly isn't going to go down wondering. He's trying everything which comes into his head at the moment.
And why not? He's two sets up so far playing on instinct!
He's in a great position to capitalise after guessing which way Sinner will go at the net but he flips it into the net, not for the first time. Hold to love.
Whatever impact Sinner's apparent discomfort in his right arm is having, Dimitrov has come to the party.
His serve speed is higher than all tournament and he is attacking the net and forcing the issue more often too.
He played 21 and 25 net points in his two three-set wins to date at Wimbledon this year.
He played 23 in the first two sets tonight.
Sinner 3-6, 5-7, *1-1 Dimitrov
Dimitrov absolutely races to 40-0 up, with Sinner missing a Hollywood forehand down the line after nice placement from Dimitrov forced the Italian to scuttle laterally across the baseline.
A fine lob from Sinner, right in the corner, and Dimitrov's swivelling backhand down the line catches the net. Then a double fault. He does not, it goes without saying, want to give the top seed a free game having been 40-0 up.
Oof, Sinner disobeying the laws of Dirty Dancing as he puts Dimitrov in the corner, net, deuce. Now then! Sinner appears to hurt that right elbow again as he gives up advantage, then a big serve sees Grigor hold.
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Sinner 3-6, 5-7, 1-0* Dimitrov
Dimitrov slices long, then cracks one long on a recovery sprint to his right after a fizzing cross-court backhand from Sinner forced him into the left corner.
That aesthetically pleasing one-handed backhand of the Bulgarian is then on display just before a beautifully judged and weighted angled drop shot is beyond Sinner's grasp. Then Sinner nets and we're at 30-all!
Ooh, a disappointing net and Sinner's 40-30. “Go on Grigor,” exclaims a plummy accent from the stands. Dimitrov fires one just over the net with a flat trajectory, gasps, but then hits the top of the net.
Still on serve.
The roof is on, the lights are on, this is a late-night treat not many people saw coming. Happy to hold my hands up and say I gave Grigor Dimitrov absolutely no chance in this match.
He's been forced to retire injured from his previous four slams, and was comfortably outplayed by Jannik Sinner the last time they played, at Roland Garros in June 2024.
That was incidentally the last major Dimitrov played in without being forced out by injury.
But somehow the 34 year old leads the world No. 1 by two sets to love. Can he complete the job?
Both players undergoing a brief warm-up before we get going again.
Remember, Grigor Dimitrov, 34 years young, the 19th seed, leads top seed and heavy favorite Jannik Sinner of Italy by two sets 3-6, 5-7.
Can Sinner come back to win in five sets, going the distance on Centre Court?
Let's find out! The noise is really ramped up inside here.
Cannot wait to see how this turns out.
The grass-court season is short — meaning it brings additional challenges for players to master the surface.
Last year, Carlos Alcaraz said, “Every time I step on a grass court I have to learn how to move better, how to play better.” Quite the statement from someone who has won Wimbledon twice.
The issue for players is the constant change of surfaces throughout the year and that so few tournaments are played on grass.
Grass requires sometimes-staccato movements and rewards players with clean ball striking and effective serves, as well as being an ideal service for a variety of strokes, using slices and drop shots.
That changes, too, when there are indoor conditions under the roof, like now.
These are the last slivers of natural light left of the day, at least inside Centre Court.
Now, the retractable roof is fully closed and the lights just came on to gasps and applause from the crowd.
You think they'd be used to it by now!
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Sinner 3-6, 5-7, *0-0 Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov has the second set, and top-seeded Jannik Sinner faces a big climb back into this match.
Dimitrov has three breaks, and those have been the difference in this match.
Sinner 3-6, 5-6* Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov breaks right back and will serve again for the second set. He has top-seeded Jannik Sinner on the ropes.
But can Dimitrov take advantage this time?
Sinner 3-6, *5-5 Dimitrov
Jannik Sinner got the service break he needed to pull even in the second set. That could be a huge momentum twist in this match.
