“It was almost déjà vu”: Grigor Dimitrov relives painful Wimbledon memory after roof delay against Mensik

Friday, 03 July 2026 at 08:30

Dimitrov sits on the court after his chest injury, while Sinner crouches beside him seconds after the injury that forced the Bulgarian to retire when he was two sets up at Wimbledon 2025.

Grigor Dimitrov admitted he could not ignore memories of last year's heartbreaking Wimbledon exit after another roof closure interrupted his match, this time during his impressive victory over Jakub Mensik. The Bulgarian revealed he repeatedly looked towards the roof, hoping history would not repeat itself.

The moment carried particular significance given what happened on the same stage twelve months earlier. In 2025, Dimitrov was leading eventual champion Jannik Sinner by two sets before play was suspended to allow the roof to close. Shortly after the restart, he suffered a pectoral injury while serving and was forced to retire in one of the tournament's most painful moments.

This year, the former world No. 3 found himself in a remarkably similar situation. His second-round clash against 15th seed Jakub Mensik was also interrupted so the roof could be closed on No. 1 Court as fading light made it impossible to continue with the roof open, immediately reviving memories of last season's disappointment.

Instead of another cruel ending, however, Dimitrov produced one of his best performances of the year. The 35-year-old defeated the Czech rising star 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to reach the third round at SW19, earning his biggest victory of the season and restoring confidence after a difficult 12 months marked by injuries.

“It was almost like déjà vu” — Dimitrov on reliving last year's painful memory

The interruption became one of the defining moments of the evening, not because of what happened on court, but because of what it represented for Dimitrov. Asked afterwards about shouting towards his player box as the roof was being closed, the Bulgarian acknowledged that last year's injury was impossible to forget.

"Yeah, indeed. I got broken in the first game of the fourth set, so that was not a great start. Listen, of course I looked up four or five times. I was hoping I was gonna finish the match before the roof was about to close again. It was almost like déjà vu."

Rather than allowing those memories to distract him, Dimitrov used the experience differently this time. Having seen one of the most promising matches of his career abruptly end a year earlier, he approached the situation with perspective instead of frustration.

"All you can do is just smile at that. What happened in the past stays there. Embrace what comes next whether it's good or bad. Today was all about that."

Biggest win of the season sets up Berrettini showdown

Dimitrov's victory carried significance well beyond reaching the third round. Mensik arrived at Wimbledon following a breakthrough season and was widely viewed as one of the most dangerous young players in the draw.

The Bulgarian relied on his experience, variety and slice to disrupt the Czech's rhythm before sealing the match under the closed roof with a superb forehand winner.

The performance also represented an encouraging step after months of setbacks. Since his emotional retirement against Sinner last year, Dimitrov has struggled to build momentum, making this one of his most complete victories in recent memory.

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Speaking immediately after the win, Dimitrov expressed his satisfaction at once again competing on one of tennis' biggest stages. "I am so happy to be back and to be able to play tennis in front of you guys. It is just a great match today. All I had to do was to come out and fight."

His reward is a third-round encounter with 2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini, another player looking to bounce back from injury problems and who comes in with confidence in five-set matches, after reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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