A devastated Grigor Dimitrov left Wimbledon in tears after being forced to retire injured when two sets up on world number one Jannik Sinner.
Bulgaria’s Dimitrov led an enthralling contest 6-3 7-5 2-2 before he fell to the floor holding his right pectoral after serving an ace.
He appeared to be in serious discomfort following the incident and Sinner immediately rushed over to help.
Dimitrov received medical treatment after returning to his chair and then briefly left court, before returning in tears to shake Sinner’s hand.
He left Centre Court to a standing ovation but was barely able to lift his right arm to wave in appreciation, with Sinner accompanying him off court.
It is the latest in a string of injury struggles for the 34-year-old, who retired injured from his first-round matches at the Australian Open and French Open.
It means Italian top seed Sinner is into the quarter-finals at SW19 for a second time – but the three-time major winner said afterwards it was “not the way we wanted it to end”.
In a cruel twist of irony, Sinner had also taken a medical timeout midway through the second set for an apparent elbow injury.
He had looked uncomfortable following a fall in the opening game but seemed to be rediscovering some sharpness when Dimitrov’s injury occurred.