Wimbledon hero Grigor Dimitrov's celeb girlfriend pens emotional message after heartbreak

It was a real sliding doors moment at this year's Wimbledon. Who knows what might've happened if Grigor Dimitrov wasn't forced to retire at 2-0 up in sets during the third against Jannik Sinner back in July.

For starters, it's extremely unlikely that Sinner would've gone on to clinch his first-ever Wimbledon crown, defeating familiar foe Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Perhaps Alcaraz secures the three-peat? Or maybe Novak Djokovic (Sinner's semi-final opponent) secures his elusive 25th Grand Slam title instead?

Alas, it was the Italian who went the distance in south-west London, much to the dismay of Dimitrov. It proved a heartbreaking end to the Bulgarian's Championship, with Dimitrov having torn a pectoral muscle while serving in the third set.

Trudging off the court in considerable pain 10 weeks ago, Dimitrov hasn't been seen in competitive action since. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been keeping active.

Dimitrov's partner Eiza Gonzalez posted a video on her Instagram story showing the tennis ace out running in the countryside, with his shoulder strapped up in what looks like a sling. The video was accompanied by a caption that read: "2 days after injury. Nothing stops him. Hardest worker I know. The most disciplined."

To be the first to receive the latest tennis news, join our WhatsApp community or newsletter

Dimitrov had addressed his fans following the injury scare, posting online: "Sometimes the heart wants to keep going... but the universe has a different plan for us. Having to withdraw from this match at Wimbledon was one of the most painful moments of my career.

"Thank you for the overwhelming wave of love - from family, friends, fans, colleagues, to the entire tennis community... your messages have genuinely lifted me through these hard times. Thank you all. Truly. Recovery starts now. I'll see you all soon."

Whereas his actor and singer girlfriend Gonzalez said: "Love of my life, I couldn't be more proud of you. You are BEYOND outstanding. This is just a moment that will pass and will make you even stronger. But watching you today, alongside the world was a reminder of who YOU are. You're a winner. We all saw it. And you'll do it again (heart emoji). I love you @grigordimitrov."

Dimitrov had hoped to feature at the US Open last month, but he was forced to withdraw from the final Slam of the year. His return isn't believed to be too far away though, with talk the 34-year-old could be back in action as early as the Shanghai Masters, which get underway in a couple of weeks' time.