Jannik Sinner in an freak injury-marred match, with opponent Grigor Dimitrov forced to quit with a two-set lead as he hurt his right pectoral muscle on Monday with no chance of playing on at Wimbledon..

Sinner, the top seed was subdued  after the 3-6, 5-7, 22 result which sent the top seed into the quarter-finals with retired icon Roger Federer watching from the Royal Box on Centre court.

Personable Bulgarian veteran Dimitrov appeared to hurt his right pec on a service motion in the fifth game of the third set and fell to the court on his knees in pain.

A concerned Sinner crossed over along with medical officials; Dimitrov was taken back to his chair and then off court for a few minutes before returning to retire.

“This is not the end we wanted to see,” the world No. 1 said. “I don’t know what to say. 

“he’s an incredible player who has been so unlucky with injury in the past. I know he would have wanted to play the next round.

“But seeing him in this position… I hope he has a speedy recovery.”

The top seed said the match “is not a win at all.”

“It was just a very unfortunate moment to witness, seeing this is very tough.”

Sinner himself suffered a medical problem and was given pain killers after falling on his right elbow in the grass earlier.

The Italian looked to be suffering some effects but soldiered on under the closed roof.

Sinner now lines up against 10th seed to bid for the final four against Ben Shelton after the 10th seed beat Italian Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (1), 7-5 as the pair played for the third time at a Grand Slam this season.

Sinner will be playing a seventh consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final.

Novak Djokovic recovered from a first-set dive in form, rallying as former rival Roger Federer looked on from the Royal Box to advance to his 16th quarter-final here.

The Serb who is trying to equal the iconic Swiss player’s record of eight Wimbledon titles, got past difficult Australian Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in three and a quarter hours, coming from 4-1 down in the fourth set.

Djokovic won 14 of the final 15 points as he turned his game around after taking a hammering in the first set.

He will play Flavio Cobolli for a spot in the semis after the Italian beat Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 94), 7-6 (3)..

“It was not a great start for me,” Djokovic said after losing a set to love for the second time this season (March at Indian Wells).

“Alex broke me three times in windy, swirly conditions; I didn’t have many solutions.”

But a change was in the offing: “In the second set I reset my game (after losing serve for 1-2 in a 20-minute game with nine deuces and six break points).

“There was a momentum shift and I was back in the match.It was cat-and-mouse against one of the quickest on Tour/

“It’s tough to play him on grass, he exposes all of your weaknesses. I was pleased to hang in tough at the right moments and win this one.”

Djokovic, 38, becomes the third man in the Open era to reach the quarter-finals here aged 38 or older, after Ken Rosewall (1874) and Federer four years ago.

Cobolli took the biggest step of his career by reaching the last eight, with his first stop after victory his bench, where his father broke down in tears of joy after hugs all around and the distribution of tournament towels brought from his player bench.

“This is a moment that I can’t forget,” the winner said. “I’m very happy and looking forward to the quarter-finals.

He added, cheekily: “I hope I pay on a big court (showcort), I’ve never done that before but I think I deserve it now.

The Italian called former US Open winner Cilic “a legend of our sport, it was a pleasure to share the court with him.”

Cobolli had to hold the line as his Croat opponent fought back after losing the first two sets, winning the third in a tiebreaker before the Italian took the fourth and the victory after three and a half hours.

“I tried to play my game, that is the key for the best players. I tried to be aggressive, focused and solid. I think I played a really good match.”

Cilic, who put out British fourth seed Jack Draper in the third round, fired 19 aces in defeat along with 64 unforced errors.

Cobolli was more balanced at 45 winners and 47 miscues.

Cilic, 36, was playing Wimbledon for the 15th time and aiming for a 15th quarter-final at a Grand Slam.

Main photo:- Novak Djokovic winning fourth round match – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd