The journey of Grigor Dimitrov to reach his fourth major semi-final ended on a sour note at the 2023 US Open. On Tuesday, Dimitrov faced Frances Tiafoe in a highly anticipated quarter-final match. Unfortunately, the former World No. 3 was forced to retire in the fourth set after struggling with physical issues. He trailed 3-6, 7-6(5), 3-6, 1-4 when he walked to the net, signaling the end of his run in New York.

Dimitrov’s match against Tiafoe followed a grueling five-set victory over Andrey Rublev, which lasted an exhausting three hours and 39 minutes. The physical toll of that match, along with previous injuries, proved too much for the 33-year-old Bulgarian. His body couldn’t keep up with the demands of another high-stakes match.

A Challenging Quarter-Final for Dimitrov

After the match, Dimitrov opened up about his decision to retire and the challenges he faced in preparing for the match. He admitted that a combination of factors led to his retirement. “It’s a combination of everything,” Dimitrov said. He revealed that his recovery process had been slower than usual, and he had been feeling the strain even before the match began.

“I felt a couple of things prior to the match. It’s the game. I need to keep my head up,” Dimitrov explained. The Bulgarian reflected on his physical condition, acknowledging that he needed to reassess his preparation and focus on improving his recovery. Despite the disappointment, Dimitrov remained positive about his overall performance at the US Open, saying, “I’ll take this quarter-final any time.”

Injury Struggles in Recent Tournaments

Dimitrov’s physical issues have been a recurring theme in his 2023 season. Earlier in the summer, he exited in the third round in Montreal and lost in the first round of Cincinnati. However, he showed resilience by bouncing back at the US Open, where he reached his second major quarter-final of the season. His previous deep run came at Roland Garros, further highlighting his ability to compete at the highest level when healthy.

However, injuries have continued to hinder Dimitrov, especially in the latter stages of major tournaments. At Wimbledon, he was forced to retire during his fourth-round match against Daniil Medvedev, adding to the frustrations of his injury-plagued season.

Mental and Physical Challenges

Dimitrov also spoke candidly about the mental and emotional toll of dealing with ongoing physical problems. He acknowledged that it doesn’t get any easier, especially as he advances in his career. “It doesn’t get easier, I tell you that much,” Dimitrov said. Despite the setbacks, he emphasized the importance of self-reflection and learning from these tough moments.

“I don’t want to just brush it off,” Dimitrov said. “I want to reassess myself and everything I’ve been going through over the past few weeks.” He expressed his determination to learn from both the positives and negatives of his recent experiences, focusing on what he can improve for the future.

What’s Next for Dimitrov?

Despite the disappointment of retiring from the US Open, Grigor Dimitrov remains optimistic about his future. He is already planning to return home, rest, and prepare for the upcoming tournaments in Asia to finish off the year. Dimitrov mentioned that although missing out on a semi-final run hurts, he is looking forward to what lies ahead.

Grigor Dimitrov is still in the running to qualify for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, a tournament he won in 2017. He currently ranks 10th in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, 470 points behind Alex de Minaur, who holds the final qualification spot. If Dimitrov can stay healthy and perform well in the remaining tournaments, he may have a chance to compete in the year-end event once again.

Grigor Dimitrov’s 2023 US Open journey ended earlier than he had hoped, but his determination and resilience remain intact. Despite the physical and mental challenges he has faced this season, Dimitrov continues to push forward, focusing on improving his game and staying competitive. While his retirement from the match against Frances Tiafoe was disappointing, the Bulgarian star is already setting his sights on the rest of the season and the possibility of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

As he takes time to rest and recover, Dimitrov will undoubtedly come back stronger, ready to continue competing at the highest level. His journey isn’t over, and fans can expect to see him back on the court soon, chasing more victories and milestones.