Jannik Sinner landed in the Wimbledon quarterfinals at the end of a match that was as painful as it was unlucky for his opponent. In fact, the world number one benefited from the withdrawal of Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced to abandon the match in the third set, on the score of 2-2, due to severe muscle pain in his chest. Up to that point it had been the Bulgarian, the number 19 seed, who had dominated the scene. Dimitrov had won the first two sets with authority, showing off his entire repertoire: 13 aces, great solidity on serve and a variety of strokes that put Sinner on the ropes, making him appear dull and in trouble, also due to a fall in the first game that forced him to resort to the physiotherapist for elbow discomfort. The match turned ugly under the closed roof of Centre Court when Dimitrov, just during a service turn, felt a twinge in his chest that left him with no escape. The withdrawal came amid tears, in an atmosphere filled with bitterness for an athlete who, once again, had to come to terms with his own physical frailty just when he was expressing his best tennis. Sinner, albeit with reservations, continues his path in the tournament and in the quarters will face American Ben Shelton, winner in four sets against Lorenzo Sonego. For the Italian it will be an opportunity to turn the page after an underwhelming performance and find new certainty ahead of the decisive phase of the tournament.