Dimitrov was playing fantastic tennis, running Sinner around the court and delivering booming serves. Dimitrov won the first set 6-3 and survived a hard-charging comeback attempt from the Italian in the second to take the set 7-5 and put the world No. 1 in a desperate position.

After winning the first two sets and having Sinner in serious upset danger, Grigor Dimitrov had to retire due to injury in the third set. The 34-year-old from Bulgaria had battled injuries for much of his career, and he knew something was wrong with his pectoral muscle after a serve.

It was a major reprieve for Sinner, the three-time grand slam winner who looked set to be on the end of a seismic shock in front of a stunned Centre Court. The Italian had slipped on the baseline in the opening game and took a medical timeout midway through the second set for treatment on his right wrist and elbow.