Grigor Dimitrov embraces the ‘hurt’, refuses to ‘brush off’ US Open QF retirement against Frances Tiafoe

Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire in the fourth set of his 2024 US Open quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe. After the match, the 33-year-old Bulgarian stated that he would embrace the “hurt” and refused to “brush off” the disappointment of the defeat.

Ninth-seed Grigor Dimitrov faced 20th-seed Frances Tiafoe in a thrilling encounter at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday, September 3. Tiafoe delivered an inspiring performance, buoyed by the support of the home crowd. The American won the first set and was on the verge of claiming the second at 6-5, but Dimitrov fought back, forcing a tiebreaker to take the set.

However, Tiafoe responded with another strong showing in the third set, and by the end, Dimitrov appeared to be struggling with a leg injury.

At the end of the third set, Dimitrov called for the physio and went off-court for treatment. Upon his return, his energy levels were noticeably lower, and he had to retire shortly afterward, with the score at 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-1 in Tiafoe’s favor.

During his post-match press conference, Dimitrov was asked how he would handle missing another chance to reach a Grand Slam semifinal, a milestone he hadn’t achieved in 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 explained that his injury resulted from “an accumulation throughout the days,” suggesting it was a gradual issue that worsened over time.

During the post-match press conference, Grigor Dimitrov revealed that his injury in the 2024 US Open quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe was due to the physical toll of playing a grueling five-set match against Andrey Rublev just a few days earlier.

When asked about his decision to retire, Dimitrov mentioned he faced a similar situation at Wimbledon, where he retired during his fourth-round match 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 in Bulgaria against Novak Djokovic on September 17, organized by his foundation.