TENNIS: Fear is not a friend: Dimitrov banishes demons to stun Mensik

LONDON — Veteran Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov said he has overcome the fear of injury after producing a superb performance to defeat fast-rising Czech player Jacub Mensik, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the second round of Wimbledon on Thursday.

Nearly a year after suffering a heartbreaking injury at the All England Club, Dimitrov turned back the clock with an impressive display against the 20-year-old Mensik, who was seeded 15th and reached the French Open semifinals last month.

The former junior Wimbledon champion, competing on a wildcard, delivered a grass-court master class on Court One, showing the form that once made him one of the sport's brightest stars.

Last year, Dimitrov was forced to retire from his fourth-round match against Jannik Sinner after tearing his right pectoral muscle despite leading by two sets. The injury marked the fifth consecutive Grand Slam in which he was unable to finish due to physical setbacks, leaving him questioning whether he could continue competing at the highest level.

"You learn. Fear is not a friend," Dimitrov told reporters after advancing to the Wimbledon third round for the fourth straight year.

"If you want to go out there and compete at the highest level, you need to push yourself to the limit. Why am I here if I'm not putting everything on the line again? If I don't have that, then there's not going to be a point for me to be competing anymore on the biggest stage of our sport, here at Wimbledon."

Dimitrov said he focused on staying present and trusting his game as he worked his way back from injury.

Against Mensik, he saved seven break points in the opening set before winning the tiebreak. Although the Czech leveled the match by taking the second set, Dimitrov regained control in the third, breaking serve after Mensik stumbled while attempting a volley.

Play was briefly halted to close the roof as daylight faded, and Dimitrov lost serve when the match resumed. However, he quickly regained his composure and finished strongly to secure the victory.

"Right now I'm in a place where I'm in the third round of Wimbledon," Dimitrov said.

"Body's holding up fairly well. There's really not that much else to add other than that this is okay, this is great, this is in front of me, and that's what I have to deal with."

Dimitrov will next face Italy's former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the third round. -Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters