Grigor Dimitrov Opens Up on Changes to His Game Since Injury against Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon

Grigor Dimitrov returns to the court in Acapulco, where he won the title on his debut.

Grigor Dimitrov Opens Up on Changes to His Game Since Injury against Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon

Grigor Dimitrov, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Wimbledon, The Sinner Times)

In Short
  • Grigor Dimitrov is competing at the Mexican Open after recovering from a pectoral injury that sidelined him for most of the 2025 season.
  • He has made strategic changes to his team, hiring former players David Nalbandian and Xavier Malisse to enhance his performance.
  • Dimitrov is focused on adjusting mentally and physically to return to form, having practiced extensively ahead of his upcoming match.

Injuries have not treated Grigor Dimitrov well, but he’s bent on competing despite his ordeals. The former World No.3 is back on the court after suffering a pectoral injury, which forced him to retire while leading Jannik Sinner by two sets in the fourth round of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships.

The World No.44 is competing in his fourth tournament this season at the Mexican Open. After suffering a pectoral injury, he missed most of the 2025 season, returning in November (after four months) for the Paris Masters, where he won just one match before withdrawing from the ATP Masters 1000 event.

He opened his 2026 campaign at the Brisbane International, beating Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round before losing to Raphael Collignon. At the Australian Open, he fell to Tomas Machac in straight sets, and at the Dallas Open, Alex Michelsen claimed a remarkable win to take his record to 1-3 on tour this season.

However, before Dimitrov suffered the pectoral injury, he was in good form at the Wimbledon Championship. In fact, he stunned Sinner on the court and was performing far better than the Italian star. He reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 US Open and got to the semi-finals of the Miami Open last March.

He’s seeking to get back to winning ways as his body continues to adjust to the daily activities on tour after months of recuperation. The Bulgarian is currently in Acapulco, an event that holds a special place in his heart as he won the ATP 500 tournament on his debut in 2014. He revealed during his interview with the ATP that he has made changes mentally and off the court to improve his game:

I had to change things up, whether I liked it or not. It was more of the work that I had to do for myself, more from a mental point of view. I had to change a lot of things and that played a little mind game with me. It’s normal, though, and I’m trying to find the silver lining. I’d never really been injured or experienced being away from the sport for that long, so it was extremely new.

Dimitrov made strategic changes to his team before the start of this season. He hired former World No.3 David Nalbandian, who won 11 tour-level titles in his career. He further added the experienced former top 20 player Xavier Malisse to his team and has revealed that it has been an encouraging partnership.

Grigor Dimitrov says he has been practicing better at the Mexican Open

Grigor Dimitrov, who thought about retirement, has withdrawn from several tournaments due to injuries. Last year, he retired from the Australian Open due to a groin injury and in May suffered a leg injury at the French Open before a pectoral injury at the Wimbledon Championships. However, he’s seeking to get back to form in Acapulco.

Grigor Dimitrov (2)
Grigor Dimitrov (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

He will face Terence Atmane on Wednesday (February 25) at the Mexican Open. Speaking ahead of the match, he revealed during the aforementioned interview that he arrived at the tournament early to be able to practice and get used to the conditions to be in the best form before the clash:

Every time we step into the same tournament, it’s the same tournament, but it’s a new year. I’m always trying to build off that new habit, whatever the new preparation looks like. I came earlier. I just wanted to make sure I step on the court a few extra hours. The past months have been a little bumpy. I haven’t been able to practise as much as I would like nor was I able to get more matches.

Alexander Zverev is the top seed at the Acapulco Open and will contend against the likes of Casper Ruud and Alexander Bublik. Zverev will open his account against Corentin Moutet, and he’s projected to face Miomir Kecmanović in the third round. He won the tournament in 2021 after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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