Báo Tuổi Trẻ•08/07/2025Dimitrov suffered a torn pectoral muscle - Photo: REUTERS
While leading the world number one 6-3, 7-5 and in the third set, Dimitrov suddenly clutched his chest after a powerful serve and sat down on the court in pain.
The Bulgarian player was then unable to continue playing, quietly shaking hands with his opponent and leaving the court to the disappointment of the crowd, while Sinner advanced to the quarterfinals in a rather disheartening manner.
To date, Dimitrov has not made any official announcement, but many major media outlets such as ESPN, The Guardian, AP, and Bild have all reported that he has suffered a serious injury to his right pectoral muscle.
The situation where he was serving and spinning at high speed is believed to be the direct cause of the stretching or even tearing of the pectoral muscle fibers, leading to severe chest pain and the inability to continue normal arm movements.
Some sports medicine experts have expressed concern, suggesting that this could be a serious injury requiring weeks to months of full recovery.
According to experts from the Hindustan Times, if the pectoralis major muscle is torn, athletes will have to take a break from competition for at least 6 to 10 weeks, and in some cases, surgery may be required if the tear is extensive or if the tendons connecting to the humerus are severed.
Dimitrov was once ranked in the top 5 in the world and reached the semi-finals of major tournaments many times, but recently his performance has been inconsistent due to recurring fitness issues. At 33 years old, each injury like this could be the end of his career.
According to ESPN's analysis, pectoral muscle injuries in tennis players mainly stem from two groups of causes.
Firstly, there is the extremely strong mechanical impact when performing a high-speed serve with the force of twisting the entire upper body, while the chest muscles are stretched to their limit.
Secondly, the accumulation of micro-trauma over a long period without time for recovery causes the muscle structure to gradually weaken, making it susceptible to tearing in a moment of sudden muscle strain.
Another factor frequently mentioned by experts is the risk of overcrowding due to the unusual weather conditions at Wimbledon this year.
Overload, weather conditions, and sudden, forceful blows and twists were among the factors that led to Dimitrov's collapse - Photo: REUTERS
According to reports from Reuters and The Guardian, Wimbledon 2025 is experiencing unusually intense heat, with temperatures fluctuating between 32–34°C throughout the past week.
WBGT – an index reflecting the body's thermal stress level – repeatedly exceeded the permissible limit, forcing organizers to implement a break between matches so that players could cool down with cold towels.
However, health experts argue that these measures only soothe the surface of the body and cannot prevent intracellular dehydration and deep muscle spasms.
When competing continuously in high temperatures, the body accumulates fatigue, reflexes become less precise, easily leading to incorrect posture or muscles no longer being able to withstand maximum load – which is very dangerous for movements that require compression and rotation, such as serving.
In Dimitrov's case, he went through a series of consecutive matches in harsh weather conditions without a long rest period, coupled with his age and injury history, making the possibility of pectoral muscle damage due to overuse entirely plausible.
Dimitrov is reportedly undergoing MRI scans and further assessment of the extent of muscle damage. Meanwhile, Sinner, the winner, revealed he is experiencing minor pain in his right elbow due to a fall during the fight and will undergo a medical examination on July 9th.
Chest injuries account for approximately 25% of trauma-related deaths in the United States. Many chest injuries are fatal within the first few minutes or hours of injury; these injuries can often be treated on-site with curative or palliative measures without requiring complex surgical training.
However, the risk of death from a pectoral muscle tear – possibly the injury Dimitrov suffered – is not high.
HUY DANG
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-tiet-da-dua-dimitrov-den-quy-mon-quan-20250708135942417.htm
