Grigor Dimitrov criticises “unfair” ranking system ahead of Wimbledon main draw return

Grigor Dimitrov has questioned the structure of professional tennis rankings, describing the system as “unfair” while competing at the Challenger 75 event in Dublin. The Bulgarian made the comments during an interview with Puntodebreak, as he continues his return to competition following an injury-disrupted season.

Dimitrov will return to Wimbledon directly in the main draw after receiving a wildcard into the tournament, maintaining his usual status at the Grand Slam despite a significant drop in ranking and a difficult competitive year. The entry ensures he avoids qualifying and remains part of the main draw field at the All England Club.

His season has been shaped by limited match play, physical setbacks and instability in his coaching structure. After returning from injury, he has worked with several coaching figures across the year, contributing to a lack of continuity and results that have driven his ranking outside the top 150.

Now competing at Challenger level to rebuild rhythm and match sharpness, Dimitrov is balancing immediate competitive demands with the longer process of regaining consistency on the ATP Tour ahead of Wimbledon.

Dimitrov’s return to Wimbledon comes via a main draw wildcard despite a difficult season that has pushed him down the rankings. It preserves his place in the main event of a tournament where he has been a regular presence for much of his career.

The Bulgarian returns to the All England Club following last year’s injury setback against Jannik Sinner, but he rejected the idea that the episode influences his current mindset, instead stressing detachment from the past and focus on present competition.

"Honestly, I am very grateful. That is all,” he said to PuntodeBreak. “What happened in the past stays in the past, I do not think at all about looking back. I really appreciate that Wimbledon gave me this wildcard, it means a lot and it is an honour. It is an honour to be at Wimbledon, imagine doing it from the main draw. Right now I am here. I am focused on everything I have to do, very motivated to compete. That is it. I have no expectations for Wimbledon."

Grass remains one of Dimitrov’s most natural surfaces, and he highlighted his ability to adapt quickly compared to other conditions on tour. "I like playing on grass. I have never had a problem changing surfaces. I adapt a bit better and faster to grass than other players, and it is a surface I enjoy.”

“Every time I compete on grass it feels special; in a way I can already count how many times I have left, so I want to make the most of each one. I go day by day, my main priority is to take care of my body and enjoy every time I step on court."

Speaking from Challenger 75 Dublin, Dimitrov delivered a direct critique of the ATP ranking system, arguing that it does not properly reflect seasons disrupted by injury. He questioned the value of rankings as an accurate performance indicator in such circumstances.

"If you think about it, I feel I have not had a proper season. We have to say things as they are. I have played very few matches this year and lost most of them. For me, that is not a season.”

Dimitrov’s position reflects the reality of a player operating outside the ATP main draw structure, where ranking decline has forced him into Challenger events and a rebuilding phase.

“It makes no sense to talk about the ranking. The way the ranking system is structured is so unfair that there is no point discussing it. Things are simple: if you win, you have a high ranking. If you lose, you drop and drop. There is no secret. This sport does not give you shortcuts: we are in a ruthless business."

Dimitrov also reflected on the emotional impact of competing at lower-tier events, highlighting the importance of crowd support during a difficult phase of his career. He described fan connection as one of the few consistent positives in an otherwise fragmented season.

"That is what I value the most, the most important thing. I felt it in the past, in the couple of Challengers I have played. When you are a tennis player you are always moving from place to place, constantly on the move. You do not have time to appreciate wins. You do not have time to obsess over losses."

He then expanded on his long-term perspective of the sport, reflecting on his career length and emotional distance from earlier stages of his journey. "I have been on tour for around 17 or 18 years, I am not even sure anymore, and now I look back and realise I am perhaps in one of the lowest moments of my career. When you have a moment, you reflect on all these years... I feel I have left, in a way, my mark. My footprint.”

“Maybe I do not fully see it while competing, but in these moments, whether here or at Wimbledon, when I step on court I feel that respect, that admiration and above all that love for the sport.”