“Nice to be back with the boys”: Grigor Dimitrov thrilled to make long-awaited comeback in Paris Masters after three months out

Monday, 27 October 2025 at 04:30

Grigor Dimitrov is preparing for his return to the courts this week at the Paris Masters, after more than 3 months out of competition. The Bulgarian went from a great 2024 – in which he returned to the top-10 – to a 2025 marked by injuries, the last of which occurred in the middle of a Wimbledon match.

Dimitrov was close to pulling off one of the tournament's upsets at Wimbledon. He reached the fourth round after defeating Yoshihito Nishioka, Corentin Moutet, and Sebastian Ofner, and was facing world no. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian was the favorite, but Dimitrov took the first two sets 6-3, 7-5. However, in the third set – with the score 2-2 – Dimitrov suffered an injury that forced him to retire, giving Sinner a pass to the quarter-finals.

This was a peculiar situation for Dimitrov, who withdrew from a Grand Slam tournament due to injury for the 5th consecutive time (Wimbledon and US Open 2024; Australian Open, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon 2025). This time, a pectoral injury forced him to take more than three months off the courts, missing the North American hardcourt swing and the Asian swing entirely.

"Good and mixed feelings": Dimitrov ready to challenge himself in Paris

This week finally brings good news for the veteran Dimitrov, who is returning to the courts after 14 weeks. The 34-year-old will compete in the Paris Masters – a tournament where he reached the final in 2023 and the quarter-finals in 2024. Although it was thought that Dimitrov might not return this year, he managed to recover for one last tournament of the season.

“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,” Dimitrov told ATPTour.com. “It's been a good week for me so far, trying to get as many hours as possible on the court because this is what I've craved. At the same time, I'm also trying to keep things at the most basic stuff."

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Dimitrov arrives at the tournament after a fall in the ranking – having been unable to accumulate points for several months – and is preparing to debut against a difficult opponent this Monday: the local Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (No. 56). “I've always loved these last tournaments of the year,” said Dimitrov. “Of course, my goal is coming back to full force next year, but it's a great challenge for me right now just to see how the body will respond.”

“Overall, I'm not trying to overthink anything right now, just trying to be as kind as possible to me, to my body, and to test myself to really see what else I need to be working on, especially coming into the next season.”

Dimitrov to partner with Nicolas Mahut for French legend's final career tournament

Dimitrov will take the opportunity to make an appearance in the doubles, something unusual for the Bulgarian, who only played doubles at Indian Wells this year, when he teamed up with the Italian Luciano Darderi – being eliminated in the first round. The former ATP Finals champion will have a special partner this time: the 5-time major champion Nicolas Mahut, who will play the last tournament of his career.

“We always wanted to do a few double sessions together throughout the last years, but I was honestly never really able to commit,” Dimitrov said of Mahut. “It was the right time. It was the last tournament for him and it made sense. I have a very sentimental relationship with him.”

The doubles campaign for the Dimitrov/Mahut duo will begin this Tuesday, facing Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, in what could be the last professional match for the 43-year-old Mahut. “For so many years, we played against each other. We competed more than once on such a big occasion. So it's safe to say that it's a good ending for him.”

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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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