LONDON: Jannik Sinner advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals despite hurting his right elbow in a fall and dropping the first two sets Monday night, because his opponent, Grigor Dimitrov, had to quit with an injured pectoral muscle.
The No. 1-seeded Sinner hadn’t dropped a set in the tournament until falling behind No. 19 Dimitrov 6-3, 7-5. But at 2-all in the third set, Dimitrov stopped playing.
It’s the fifth consecutive Grand Slam tournament where the 34-year-old Dimitrov failed to complete a match. He also did it at the Australian Open in January and the French Open in May, plus last year’s Wimbledon and US Open.
“He’s been so unlucky in the past couple of years. An incredible player. A good friend of mine, also. We understand each other very well, off the court, too,” Sinner said. “I hope he has a speedy recovery.”
On the last point against Sinner, Dimitrov served and immediately clutched his chest with his left hand. He took a few steps and crouched, before sitting on the grass. Sinner walked over to that side of the court to check on him.
“My pec,” Dimitrov told Sinner.
Dimitrov — a three-time major semifinalist, including at Wimbledon in 2014 — then went to the sideline, sat in his chair and was checked by a trainer and doctor. As Dimitrov talked with them, Sinner knelt nearby. After a delay of a few minutes, Dimitrov walked toward the locker room with the medical personnel.
Soon, he reemerged and said he couldn’t continue.
“I don’t take this as a win, at all,” Sinner said. “This is just a very unfortunate moment to witness for all of us.”
Two hours earlier, it was Sinner down on the ground and seemingly in trouble. He was hurt in the opening game, when his foot gave out from under him and he slipped and fell behind a baseline, bracing his fall with his right hand while still holding his racket.
During a medical timeout while trailing 3-2 in the second set, Sinner winced as a trainer massaged the elbow. Sinner’s coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, looked on from their box with concern.
Sinner was given a pill to take and play resumed. He frequently shook his right arm or rubbed his elbow between points.
The 23-year-old Italian is a three-time Grand Slam champion who will play No. 10 Ben Shelton of the United States for a berth in the semifinals. Sinner leads the head-to-head series 5-1 and has won their past five matches, all in straight sets, including at Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open this year.
Sinner entered Monday having lost a total of just 17 games in the tournament, tying the record for the fewest in the Open era by man at Wimbledon through three completed matches.
Right after he fell behind by two sets against Dimitrov, the match was paused so the stadium’s retractable roof could be closed because of fading sunlight.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was not a fan of that decision, writing on social media: “So ridiculous to close the roof at this stage of the match. At least an hour of light left….well over a set of tennis can still be played..its an outdoor tournament!”
About a half-hour later, the match was over.
 

DUBAI: Dzanan Musa, one of Europe’s most sought-after shooting guards, joins Dubai Basketball on a three-year deal starting with the 2025-26 season. The two-time EuroLeague champion will join the Dubai side directly from a title-winning campaign with one of the world’s most celebrated teams, Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old Bosnian has created a name for himself with a brief stint in the NBA, followed by his immediate ascent in the EuroLeague. Speaking on his transfer to Dubai that will see him on the team until 2028, Musa commented: “Joining Dubai Basketball is an incredible opportunity and a challenge I’m fully prepared to take on. Coming off a championship season in Spain, I feel confident in what I can bring to the court, and I’m excited to help this team create history in both the EuroLeague and ABA League.

“It’s been an amazing journey to reach this stage of my career. Now being here in Dubai, ready to write a new chapter, it’s truly special,” he added. “I’m looking forward to supporting the growing basketball community here, connecting with our fans, and making them proud. I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to help this team grow and leave a lasting legacy in this city.”

Before returning to Europe, Musa spent two seasons in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets, who selected him 29th overall in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft. During his time in the US, he appeared in 49 NBA games, gaining playing time alongside All-Star teammates, including NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Musa also excelled in the NBA G League, where he averaged 19.5 points per game with the Long Island Nets, underlining his offensive potential.

Musa made an immediate impact since his debut, which started with Slovenian side Cedevita Olimpija, where he made his first EuroLeague appearance at just 16 years old. Following his time in the US, Dzanan joined Spanish side Rio Breogan in 2021, where he was named the Spanish league’s MVP for his standout season.

The Bosnian was quickly scouted to join Spanish giants Real Madrid at 23 years old. He became a key figure in the team’s 2022-23 EuroLeague title-winning run, contributing an average of 14.8 points and 2.7 assists per game, which led him to be selected in the All-EuroLeague First Team in his inaugural year at Madrid. Musa joins Dubai Basketball after wrapping up a successful domestic league campaign where he contributed a total of 466 points to clinch the Spanish side’s 16th league title.

Musa becomes the first signing ahead of what promises to be a historic season, not only for Dubai but for European basketball. Since the team’s inception in the 2024-25 season, Dubai Basketball has consistently made headlines by reaching milestones, setting records, and paving the way for a new era in the sport. As the club prepares for its EuroLeague debut this season, head coach Jurica Golemac is assembling a roster capable of challenging the very best in Europe.