Bulgarian Tennis Star Grigor Dimitrov Exits Opening Match of Winston Salem Open Due to Dizziness and Shortness of Breath

ATP #19 Grigor Dimitrov, the top overall seed at the Winston-Salem Open, had to retire from his opening match on Tuesday due to an illness during the 2nd set.

The 31-year-old Bulgarian tennis star dominated Dominic Thiem 6-0 in the opening set.

However, Dimitrov retired while trailing 4-2 in the 2nd set.

He experienced dizziness and shortness of breath and opted to retire after consulting a doctor, according to Yahoo Sport.

The first set was total domination from the Bulgarian, winning 80 per cent (12-of-15) of the points against Thiem’s serve as he breezed through the opening frame in 25 minutes, but after experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath in the second set, he decided to pull the plug on his match after a visit from the doctor.

Thiem will play England’s Jack Draper in the next round after he was too strong down the stretch for Italy’s Fabio Fognini, winning 6-2 4-6 6-1.

https://twitter.com/BradPorcellato/status/1563902018544193536

THE IRONY

unvaccinated player Novak Djokovic barred from entering the U.S. to play in the U.S. Open, vaccinated Grigor Dimitrov, highest ranked Bulgarian tennis player in history, is retiring due to dizziness and shortness of breath" facing defeat at the Winston-Salem Open pic.twitter.com/ZcfMTAFfhS

— Johnny U (@Johnnypatriot64) August 28, 2022

Watch the footage via Rumble:

The video references one of the sponsors of this year’s U.S. Open, Moderna.

US Open today but Novak was not allowed to play because he is unvaccinated. 🫵🏽 Does anyone notice? 👀Moderna is a sponsor of the US Open. pic.twitter.com/2FiWI01klp

— Jenny Wood ✨🌸 #NoVirusRadical (@Woody2Jenny) August 27, 2022

From Tennisnet:

What was the US Tennis Association thinking when it brought the pharmaceutical company Moderna on board as a sponsor for the US Open 2022? The partnership may not have a calming effect.

As Wikipedia noted, the Winston-Salem Open is part of the U.S. Open series held the week prior to the historic tennis tournament.

The tournament is part of the US Open Series and is typically held in August the week prior to the US Open. It is one of six 250 level events on tour played in the United States. In 2016, the tournament received recognition as one of the ATP World Tour 250 Tournaments of the Year.

Former World #1 and 21-time major champion Novak Djokovic had to withdraw from the US Open due to the Biden Administration’s travel restrictions on unvaccinated non-US citizens.

From ESPN:

Novak Djokovic, the 21-time major champion and former world No. 1, has withdrawn from the US Open due to travel restrictions into the United States as a result of being unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Djokovic made the announcement Thursday morning, shortly before the draw was to be revealed, tweeting, “Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open.”

He wished luck to his fellow players and said he would “keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again.”

Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. ❤️ Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. 💪🏼 See you soon tennis world! 👋🏼

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance on international travel: “If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country.”