𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

During the roof closure, between the second and third sets, Andy Murray criticised the move.

Could the stop-start nature of the final few games have affected Dimitrov? Was he properly warmed up upon the resumption?

Dimitrov, the 19th seed, won the opening two sets and held serve with an ace in the third but then fell to the ground, saying: “My pec, my pec,” as a concerned Sinner walked round the net to ask what was wrong.

Sinner stayed by the side of Dimitrov who shed tears while he received treatment and the Bulgarian eventually threw in the towel and walked off to a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd.

Dimitrov, 34, was checked on by Sinner, 23, before getting advice from physios courtside. Dimitrov began to break down in tears and, after leaving the court and returning a few minutes later, it was announced that he could not continue.

The retirement, his fifth in a row at a grand slam, cost him a potential upset against Sinner and a spot in the quarter-finals.

After Alcaraz saw off a spirited Andrey Rublev on Sunday, fighting from a set down to win in four, the 2023 and 2024 champion set up a mouthwatering showdown.

Also on Tuesday, women’s world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka aims to build on wins over Emma Raducanu and Elise Mertens, as she plays Laura Siegemund on Centre Court.

Hello and welcome along to live coverage from day nine at Wimbledon, as the men’s singles draw reaches the quarter-final stage.