“I had no choice but to listen to my body”: Grigor Dimitrov set for Brisbane return after brutal injury-plagued 2025 season

Grigor Dimitrov is preparing for a new chapter in his career after an injury-plagued 2025 season. Now 34 years old, the Bulgarian will return to competition next week at the Brisbane International, a tournament he has won twice (2017 and 2024) and where he also claimed his most recent title two years ago.

Dimitrov enjoyed a career resurgence between 2023 and 2024, reaching Masters 1000 finals at both the Paris Masters and the Miami Open, re-establishing himself inside the Top 10 and making deep runs at Grand Slams. However, injuries disrupted his momentum throughout 2025, forcing him to miss several months on tour.

His season took a dramatic turn at Wimbledon, where Dimitrov suffered a sudden pectoral injury while leading Jannik Sinner by two sets in the fourth round. Just as he appeared close to delivering one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, he was forced to retire. It marked the fifth consecutive Grand Slam in which Dimitrov had withdrawn mid-match, adding to a growing list of physical setbacks.

The pectoral injury sidelined him for nearly the rest of the year, causing him to miss the entire North American summer swing, including the US Open. He returned only once more, at the Paris Masters, where after winning his opening match, he was again forced to retire—this time due to a shoulder injury.

Since his Wimbledon withdrawal in early July, Dimitrov has competed in just one tournament. He admitted that the recovery process has been one of the most challenging periods of his career. “I needed a lot of time to strengthen my muscles again. It was a very painful summer, very tough,” said the former world No. 3 according to Punto de Break. “I couldn’t serve, I couldn’t hit my forehand. I spent an incredible amount of time in the gym. It’s been a long, hard process, but I realised I had no choice but to listen to my body.”

During his recovery, Dimitrov also made significant changes to his coaching setup. He recently ended his professional relationship with Jamie Delgado and Daniel Vallverdu, who had worked with him over the past few seasons, and appointed former Top 20 player Xavier Malisse as his new coach. Malisse, known for his powerful forehand and fiery on-court personality, won doubles titles at the 2004 French Open and the 2011 Indian Wells Masters.

“Xavier will be by my side. We’ve signed a new agreement, and he brings clarity to my game,” Dimitrov explained. “From a physical standpoint, I’ve done a complete rebuild. Yes, these are all major changes. I started last season very strong, so I hope to do the same in 2026.”

Dimitrov enters the new season ranked world No. 44, an unfamiliar position for a player who had finished 12 consecutive seasons inside the Top 30—earning Grand Slam seedings throughout that span—and spent at least eight of those years inside the Top 20.

This time, he will have to work his way up from the bottom, facing potentially difficult draws from the very first round, not only at Grand Slams but also at smaller tournaments.

“Every time I step on court, it’s to compete, give my best, and try to win the tournament—and that won’t change now,” said the 34-year-old. “Right now, my ranking doesn’t reflect my level, but I trust that if I do things the right way and stay healthy, if my body truly allows me to push through the tough moments of each match, good things will happen.”