LONDON — Twelve months after the most painful loss of his career, Grigor Dimitrov wept tears of joy after a cathartic Wimbledon second round win against Czech rising star Jakub Mensik.
Dimitrov defeated 15th seed Mensik 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Court One to banish the demons of his agonising exit last year.
The 35-year-old celebrated his redemptive success with an out-pouring of joy and disbelief so touching that the crowd rose to give him a standing ovation.
Dimitrov will play former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini for a place in the last 16, but regardless of how long his run in the grass-court Grand Slam lasts, he has finally expunged the bitter taste of his exit against Jannik Sinner last year.
The Bulgarian had been forced to withdraw due to injury within touching distance of a shock victory over Sinner in after taking a two-set lead against the Italian in the fourth round.
“I’m very emotional and a little bit overwhelmed at the moment,” Dimitrov said before briefly halting his on-court interview as his tears flowed.
“All I wanted to do is just come out and fight, that was my goal. I didn’t even think about winning or losing,” he added according to AFP.
“I thank my team, my friends, my family and my girlfriend, everyone that has been with me through that path. The path here has been so difficult.
“It is all about conquering myself and playing tennis like I did today, regardless of the outcome.”
Before injury struck against Sinner, Dimitrov had been playing some of the best tennis of a career that has promised so much but delivered too little when the stakes were highest.
Just as a potentially life-changing victory was within his grasp, Dimitrov suffered a right pectoral injury while serving an ace.
