Wimbledon 2025: Serena Williams hails 'guy bestie' Dimitrov's injury comeback
Synopsis
Serena Williams did not just catch up with an old friend at Wimbledon — she put a spotlight on one of tennis's most emotional comeback stories. Grigor Dimitrov, who left Centre Court in tears after a pectoral injury derailed a potential upset over Jannik Sinner last year, returns to the All England Club having fought through months of first-round losses. Williams's candid 'guy bestie' tribute adds a rare personal dimension to a story of sporting resilience.
Key Takeaways
Serena Williams reunited with Grigor Dimitrov at the All England Club on 27 June ahead of Wimbledon 2025 .
Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion , called Dimitrov her 'guy bestie' at her pre-tournament press conference on 29 June .
Dimitrov retired from Wimbledon 2024 with a pectoral injury while leading Jannik Sinner 6-3, 7-5, 2-2 in the fourth round.
He suffered first-round exits in Dallas, Acapulco, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid , and two Challenger events before winning four matches in Dublin and Mallorca in June.
Dimitrov faces Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny in his Wimbledon 2025 first-round match on Tuesday .
Williams opens her campaign — her first Wimbledon singles appearance since the 2022 US Open — against Maya Joint of Australia.
Serena Williams has expressed heartfelt delight at seeing close friend Grigor Dimitrov back on the grass at Wimbledon 2025, calling the Bulgarian her 'guy bestie' and describing how painful it was to watch his tearful retirement from last year's Championships. Williams, making her first Wimbledon singles appearance since the 2022 US Open, reunited with Dimitrov at the All England Club on Friday, 27 June, ahead of the tournament.
Williams on Their Long Friendship
At her pre-tournament press conference on Sunday, 29 June, the 23-time Grand Slam champion spoke warmly about her bond with the former world No. 3. 'I always call Grigor my bestie; he's definitely my guy bestie,' Williams said. 'It was so good to see him. We obviously communicate outside of Grand Slams. I haven't seen him in almost a year, so it was nice to catch up. I have so many good memories with Grigor. He gets my crazy, and I get his crazy. Believe me, he's way crazier than I am.'
Dimitrov's Injury Nightmare at Wimbledon 2024
Dimitrov's return to Wimbledon carries significant emotional weight. A year ago, the 35-year-old was forced to retire from his fourth-round match on Centre Court due to a pectoral injury, while leading eventual champion and then-world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-3, 7-5, 2-2. He left the court in tears, his title hopes shattered in one of the most distressing moments of his career.
He did not compete again until late October, when he won a match at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris — only to be forced to withdraw once more due to injury. The setbacks underscored just how severe and persistent the physical toll had been.
A Difficult Road Back to the Tour
Dimitrov's comeback in the early months of 2026 remained gruelling. He suffered first-round defeats in Dallas, Acapulco, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and ATP Challenger events in Aix-en-Provence and Bordeaux, and also fell in Roland Garros qualifying. The string of early exits raised questions about whether the Bulgarian could recapture his best form.
However, the grass swing offered a turning point. Dimitrov won four matches across tournaments in Dublin and Mallorca in June, signalling a return of confidence heading into Wimbledon.
Williams Opens Campaign, Backs Dimitrov's Fight
Williams herself opens her Wimbledon singles campaign against Australia's Maya Joint. Reflecting on Dimitrov's ordeal, she was candid about how difficult it had been to witness from the sidelines. 'It was really tough to see that last year,' Williams said. 'He's had a tough year just dealing with it. You just have to keep fighting and keep coming back.'
Dimitrov is set to begin his Wimbledon 2025 campaign on Tuesday, facing Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny in the first round. Whether his grass-court form translates to the sport's most prestigious stage remains to be seen, but his return alone has been welcomed by friends and fans alike.
Point of View
But the deeper story is what Dimitrov's presence at Wimbledon 2025 actually represents: a player who has spent the better part of a year fighting his own body, grinding through Challenger losses and qualifying rounds, just to get back to a stage he once threatened to win. His four grass-court wins in Dublin and Mallorca are a thin foundation for a deep Wimbledon run, but momentum on grass is notoriously quick to build. The more telling detail is that Williams — herself navigating a high-stakes singles return — chose to publicly centre his comeback, not her own. That says something about where both their heads are this fortnight.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Grigor Dimitrov's Wimbledon 2025 return significant?
Dimitrov is returning to Wimbledon a year after being forced to retire from his fourth-round match with a pectoral injury while leading eventual champion Jannik Sinner 6-3, 7-5, 2-2. The comeback follows months of first-round losses across multiple tournaments and marks his first serious grass-court run since the injury.
What did Serena Williams say about Grigor Dimitrov at Wimbledon 2025?
Williams called Dimitrov her 'guy bestie' at her pre-tournament press conference on 29 June, saying she had not seen him in almost a year. She also said it was 'really tough' to watch his injury retirement at Wimbledon 2024 and praised his resilience in fighting back.
Who does Grigor Dimitrov play in the Wimbledon 2025 first round?
Dimitrov faces Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny in the first round, with the match scheduled for Tuesday. He enters on the back of four wins across grass-court tournaments in Dublin and Mallorca in June.
When is Serena Williams playing at Wimbledon 2025, and who is her opponent?
Williams opens her Wimbledon 2025 singles campaign against Australia's Maya Joint. It is her first Wimbledon singles match since the 2022 US Open.
How bad was Grigor Dimitrov's injury run after Wimbledon 2024?
After his pectoral injury at Wimbledon 2024, Dimitrov did not compete until late October, when he won one match in Paris before withdrawing again. In early 2026, he lost in the first round in Dallas, Acapulco, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, two ATP Challenger events, and Roland Garros qualifying before finding form on grass.
