Grigor Dimitrov is dealing with more than just his ongoing injury problems. The Bulgarian star has parted ways with longtime coach Jamie Delgado as he continues recovering from the chest muscle tear that ended his remarkable Wimbledon run.
It’s pretty tough timing for a guy who was finally getting his career back on track.
By the end of 2022, Dimitrov was at rock bottom. The 2017 ATP Finals champion hadn’t won a single title since that big victory, and he hadn’t even reached a final since Rotterdam back in 2018.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grigor Dimitrov | 34 | 3,775 | 28 - 9 |
That’s a brutal five-year stretch for any player.
The comeback that almost was
Dimitrov really needed someone to light a fire under him. He was 31 heading into 2023, and honestly, not many people thought he’d ever get back to challenging for big titles again.
Delgado’s arrival at the end of 2022 changed everything.
Under the British coach’s guidance, Dimitrov found the focus and consistency that had been missing for years. In 2023, he reached his second Masters 1000 final at the Paris Masters, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
He also made finals in Geneva, reached the semis in Shanghai, and got to the fourth rounds at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
2024 was even better. Dimitrov finally broke his title drought at the Adelaide International, beating Holger Rune for his first trophy in over six years.
He followed that up with a runner-up finish at the Miami Open and reached two more finals in Marseille and Stockholm.
Everything seemed to be clicking again. The old Dimitrov was back.
Then the injuries started piling up
This year brought some good results too – semifinals in Miami and quarterfinals at Monte-Carlo. But those achievements got completely overshadowed by Dimitrov’s body breaking down.
He’d retired from four straight Grand Slams before the most heartbreaking moment of all came at Wimbledon.
Dimitrov was absolutely dominating Jannik Sinner in their quarterfinal, leading 6-3, 7-5, and up 2-2 in the third set. Then suddenly, his chest muscle tore.
Just like that, his best shot at a Grand Slam final in years was over.
That devastating retirement against Sinner turned out to be Delgado’s last match as his coach. Dimitrov announced their split on social media, and you can tell there’s no bad blood between them.
"After a few years and great achievements together, Jamie Delgado and I have decided to part ways amicably. I wish him the best in his future endavors. I’m excited to start fresh after this time I’ve dedicated fully to my recovery. I’m looking forward to coming back to play soon."
Delgado deserves huge credit for helping Dimitrov find his game again. The Bulgarian looked lost before the Brit came along, and their partnership brought some of the best tennis of Dimitrov’s career.
He’s not alone on the sidelines
Dimitrov isn’t the only player dealing with injury problems right now. Jack Draper is also done for the season because of an arm injury.
The British player had to withdraw before the second round of the US Open and decided it was better to focus on getting healthy for next year.
That meant pulling out of the Six Kings Slam too. Stefanos Tsitsipas got the call to replace him, which raised some eyebrows since the Greek has had a pretty rough year and isn’t even in the Top 20 anymore.
Beatriz Haddad Maia is also calling it quits for 2025. The Brazilian No. 1 has had a challenging season and wants to recharge mentally before coming back stronger next year.
It’s been a year where injuries have really taken their toll on some big names. For Dimitrov, the question now is whether he can find the right coach to help him stay healthy and build on the progress he made with Delgado.
