Grigor Dimitrov’s impressive streak of appearing in 58 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments is set to end as he withdraws from the upcoming US Open due to injury. Since the 2011 Australian Open, Dimitrov’s name has been a fixture on every men’s singles main draw entry list. However, the Bulgarian will be absent from the US Open this year after sustaining a partial tear of his right pectoralis major muscle at Wimbledon.

During Wimbledon, Dimitrov was leading by two sets against eventual champion Jannik Sinner but was forced to retire due to the injury. Despite hopes for recovery, Dimitrov has not regained fitness in time for the American Slam. His manager, Georgi Stoimenov, confirmed to TennisKafe that Dimitrov will be sitting out this tournament, with the possibility of returning for events in China later in September still uncertain.

Dimitrov holds the record for the longest active consecutive Grand Slam appearance streak at 58 tournaments. Over these years, his performance at the majors has seen various milestones, including reaching the Wimbledon semi-final in 2014 and multiple quarter-final appearances at the Australian Open and French Open. His recent Grand Slam results reflect a seasoned career that continues to face challenges from injuries and form.

As he recovers, all eyes will be on his return to competitive play later this season. For now, the absence of a player who has been a constant presence on the major stage marks the end of an era in active Grand Slam participation count.

World No. 4 Taylor Fritz has openly criticized the ATP’s current calendar regulations, which compelled him to compete despite not feeling fully fit. This week, just four days after his quarter-final exit at the Washington Open, Fritz is back on court as the Canadian Open begins. He suggests that the compressed schedule and mandatory tournament requirements hinder players’ ability to rest properly.

The 27-year-old highlighted the ATP rule mandating participation in a minimum number of ATP 500 events annually. Due to injuries earlier in the season, Fritz missed two such tournaments, forcing him to compete in Washington to avoid receiving a zero on his record in this category.

“It’s a tough time of year because there’s no week where it makes sense to take a break,” Fritz explained. “There are thousands, and to be honest, last week, and don’t get me wrong, I really like Washington and I like playing the tournament, but with how tight my schedule was on the grass court, I probably should have decided not to participate.

“But there’s a new rule that says you have to play a certain number of 500 events or they put a zero on your record. Because I was injured during the year, I missed two 500s, so I had to play in Washington to have a chance to meet my ATP 500 quota for the year.”

Fritz warned that this policy might leave players fatigued heading into the US Open, an event many prioritize. “I’ll be honest, I don’t think it’s the best policy because I had an injury earlier this year and felt like a week off would have been great. A lot of the guys are prioritising the US Open and don’t want to come here, play this tournament, play in Cincinnati, and be exhausted for the US Open.

“So it’s just a matter of priorities. For me, obviously, being from North America, it’s a tournament I enjoy playing and I’m excited to be here, but I understand that for some of the Europeans, it might be a lot, and they probably want to prioritise the US Open.”

On a positive note, Fritz mentioned improvements in his game since his last US Open appearance. “I feel like between the US Open and the ATP Finals last year, I did some things to improve my forehand a little bit. It’s a lot of little specific things.

“I feel like I’m serving better this year than I was last year, definitely at the US Open. I’m hitting all my shots a little bit better, more consistently this year. I’m trying to move better. I’m not sure if I am, but I feel good. I’m always trying to improve a little bit on everything.”

Alexander Zverev, currently ranked world No. 3, has invested significant time training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca as part of his preparation for the North American hard-court season. During this period, he engaged in extensive discussions with both Toni and Rafael Nadal, gaining valuable insights that he believes can enhance his game.

Reports from German media suggest Toni Nadal declined an offer to join Zverev’s coaching team full-time due to prior commitments, including his role as tournament director of the ATP 250 event in Mallorca and various speaking engagements. Nonetheless, Zverev is hopeful Toni can dedicate more time to maximize his potential.

Speaking ahead of his Canadian Open campaign, where he is the top seed and will face world No. 88 Adam Walton in the second round after a first-round bye, Zverev was asked about the possibility of Rafael Nadal mentoring him. He replied with a chuckle, “Yeah, I mean, he spent quite a lot of time with me actually as well, so I’m very thankful for that.”

Zverev emphasized that his main focus is on winning by making the most of his current abilities and future potential. “I think at this stage for me it’s about winning, and trying to maximise what I have, and trying to maximise what I can become,” he said.

He praised Toni Nadal’s expertise in developing players, acknowledging the challenge of comparisons with Rafael Nadal but expressing confidence in Toni’s ability to help him reach new heights. “If he can maximise what I have, and he can maximise the potential that I have, I’m sure that I can have a lot more success in my career.”

The German missed action since his five-set defeat at Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech on July 1. After the loss, he described feeling “empty” and “alone,” and mentioned openness to seeking therapy. He now feels the time off has been beneficial. “I took some time off. I mean, I had four weeks since my last match, which doesn’t happen very often, it only happens in the off-season kind of,” Zverev explained. “I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to play again, and I think the time off in the summer was extremely important for me.”