Grigor Dimitrov returns to action after three months at 20 days. The Bulgarian faces Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Paris Masters, his first match since the Wimbledon fourth round.
The veteran is ready to test his form and fitness following a massive setback that ended his All England Club campaign while leading two sets to love against world no. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Grigor closed the fourth game of the third set to level the score at 2-2 before falling to the ground and grabbing his right shoulder. He sustained a pectoral muscle injury and underwent surgery.
As was expected, Dimitrov missed the US Open, skipping a Major after entering 58 in a row! He withdrew from more tournaments before finally preparing to return to action in Paris.
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The Bulgarian embraced a rare pause from the beloved sport, spending the summer away from competition for the first time in two decades. Those months away provided Grigor with the space to reset physically and mentally.
He reconnected with life beyond tennis, recharging before stepping back onto the court with renewed focus. Now, he returns to familiar surrounding and old rivals, eager to rediscover his rhythm against the world's best.
Paris marks his first test, but Dimitrov's long-term vision is clear - a full strength comeback in 2026. The 34-year-old knows the importance of patience, emphasizing a steady approach as he gauges his body's response to the demands of top-level competition.
For Grigor, Paris is more than just a regular tournament. It's a fresh beginning and a chance to measure how much he is regained and what lies ahead in his journey back to form.
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The ultimate goal? Injury-free tennis in 2026 and notable victories on the big stages.
"There are many good and mixed feelings. I had the opportunity to finally live a summer at home, after 20 years. I was not trying to do much; the goal was to completely disconnect from tennis.
After so many years of tension, it was like I left everything behind for a moment. It's nice to be back with the boys and starting to challenge them again. I have craved for many hours on the court, and I achieved that ahead of my first match in Paris.
At the same time, I'm trying to keep things as basic as possible. My goal is to compete at full power next year. However, I have to see how my body will respond here in Paris. I have always enjoyed the closing events of the season.
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I'm not trying to overthink anything right now, just to be as kind as possible to my body and test myself to see what else I need to work on ahead of the next season," Grigor Dimitrov said.
