Grigor Dimitrov won his second consecutive match at Wimbledon on July 2, 2026, defeating 15th seed Jakub Mensik 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
The victory followed a first-round win over Dane Sweeny.
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The Bulgarian, 35, returned to the same courts where a severe pectoral injury forced him to retire against Jannik Sinner exactly 12 months ago.
Emotional Return
After his opening round win, Dimitrov stayed on court to engage with the crowd. "I just wanted to take it all in.
I'm incredibly appreciative of the support I've had," he said, as reported by BBC Sport.
The former world number three missed significant tour time due to the injury, ending a streak of 58 consecutive Grand Slam appearances.
He returned to competition in October 2025.
"I'm very grateful to Wimbledon for trusting me with a wildcard. That shows appreciation, and I felt a lot of love out there," Dimitrov said.
He had early exits at the Australian Open and French Open qualifiers earlier in 2026 before arriving at the All England Club.
"At the same time, I don't want to let people down.
There are so many reasons why I play this sport, and that connection with the fans is a big one," he added.
The emotional weight of the comeback became apparent months after the physical setback.
"Over a career, there are certain moments you always remember, and this will definitely be one of them," Dimitrov said.
