Jannik Sinner advanced to the Wimbledon quarter-finals in unusual circumstances after his opponent was forced to retire with injury. The world number one was trailing two sets to zero when Grigor Dimitrov suffered a painful right pectoral injury that left him unable to continue.
"It's ridiculous to close the roof at this stage of the match. There's at least an hour of daylight left...," commented former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray on social media, expressing his frustration with the officials' decision.
The match had been interrupted for over 13 minutes after the second set to close the roof, despite natural light still being available. This delay may have contributed to Dimitrov cooling down mid-match, potentially affecting his muscles.
Murray, a two-time Wimbledon winner (2013 and 2016) with 53 victories at the tournament, didn't hold back his criticism. "You can still play more than one set of tennis! It's an outdoor tournament!" he added in his post.
The Bulgarian player, who had been putting on one of his best performances, was visibly distraught. Dimitrov was seen clutching his right pectoral muscle before making the difficult decision to withdraw - his fifth Grand Slam retirement. He left the court in tears, unable to even raise his arm.
Interestingly, this unexpected turn of events has now cleared the path for Sinner, who will face American Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals. The Italian must feel fortunate to still be in the tournament after being outplayed for two sets.
Was the roof closure decision a critical factor in Dimitrov's injury? The timing certainly raises questions about tournament management and player welfare.
