Grigor Dimitrov is set to make his much-anticipated return to competitive tennis this afternoon, going head-to-head with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a round of 64 match at the Paris Masters. This marks his first match since a devastating pectoral muscle injury suffered during Wimbledon’s round of 16, where he was on the verge of defeating Jannik Sinner, leading the match 6-3, 7-5 before retiring at 2-2 in the third set. Sinner eventually won the tournament, defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the final, but the outcome might have been different had Dimitrov been able to continue.
Now, fourteen weeks post-injury, the Bulgarian star returns to the court at the Paris Masters, a tournament where he notably reached the finals in 2023. Although he is not in contention for a spot in the ATP Finals this year, Dimitrov is focused on his recovery and future performance. “My main goal is to come back to full force next year, but it’s a great challenge for me right now just to see how the body will respond,” he stated in an interview with the ATP Tour.
Dimitrov expressed his mixed emotions about returning, noting that there is excitement and positivity in rejoining his peers and competing once again. He emphasized a simple approach to his comeback, stating, “There are a lot of good and mixed feelings in the most positive way, but it’s nice to be back with the boys and starting to challenge each other again.”
Today’s match against local favorite Perricard is crucial for Dimitrov as he seeks to regain his rhythm. Should he advance past Perricard, he will face either Jaume Munar or the formidable Daniil Medvedev in the next round, setting the stage for what could be an exciting tournament for the returning athlete. Fans are hopeful that this marks the beginning of a strong comeback for Dimitrov as he looks ahead to the next season.