Eric Goodries | Friday, July 3, 2026
Photo: Sean Brooks/Camera Sport
If there are two players who deserve to have a good time at Wimbledon, it is certainly Matteo Berrettini And Grigor Dimitrov.
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Now both players, who have each dealt with their own injury problems over the past few years, face each other for a chance to reach the second week at the All England Club.
Berrettini and Dimitrov knocked out the seeded players to face each other in the third round.
Berrettini, a former 2021 finalist, upset the 20th seed Arthur Son France 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in a strong game.
Dimitrov overtook 15th place Jakub Mensik in star style 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
“I know my level. I know I can beat anyone. I know I can give anyone trouble, especially on this surface,” Berrettini said after the win. “I also know that I could lose the match. That fine line between fear and confidence is very important in tennis.”
Dimitrov, the former world No. 3, took over the current world No. 1. Jannik Sinner with a two-set lead in the round of 16 match at last year’s Wimbledon. But then in that match he suffered a heartbreaking chest injury that forced him first to withdraw from the match and then from tennis for several months. Now he is enjoying a resurgence at Wimbledon this year.
“Honestly, I don’t have anything to say other than I’m so happy to be back and just playing tennis in front of you guys,” Dimitrov said later. “That’s it. I’m very emotional. I’m a little overwhelmed.
“It’s just a great match today. All I wanted to do was go out and fight. That was my goal. I wasn’t thinking about winning or losing. I wasn’t even thinking about my body to that extent. The atmosphere was just amazing, as always.”
“You know, last year was very difficult and again, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s just about beating yourself and playing tennis just like that today, regardless of the result.”
Berrettini and Dimitrov, who are tied at 1-1, will certainly try to put on a show in their next match.
Dimitrov perhaps said it best when he said of the fight: “At least it will be a good-looking match. I’m looking forward to it.”