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Defending champion Grigor Dimitrov retires hurt from Brisbane International semi

Defending champion and No.2 seed Grigor Dimitrov retired from his semi final at the Brisbane International on Saturday evening with what appeared to be a groin injury.

In his title defence, Dimitrov was trailing against Czech player Jiri Lehecka when he pulled up ginger during a point in the second set.

Lehecka led 6-4, 4-4 when Dimitrov left the court for a medical timeout after being assessed by the physio court-side.

AS IT HAPPENED: Australia vs India fifth Test, day two

Grigor Dimitrov leaves the court after retiring from his men's semi-final match against Jiri Lehecka at the 2025 Brisbane International. Chris Hyde via Getty Images

The world No.10 returned to Pat Rafter Arena but could only manage one point before retiring from the match.

With the Australian Open only a week away, Dimitrov will be hoping the complaint is the result of muscle soreness and nothing more sinister.

With the result, Lehecka progresses to the final in the River City where he will face either American Reilly Opelka or Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the decider.

Lehecka will be hoping to add a second ATP Tour title to his resume after he triumphed at the Adelaide Internation last January.

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"I will need to be focused 100 per cent all the time," Lehecka said post-match regarding a potential match-up with either Opelka or Mpetshi Perricard in the final.

"I will need to focus on every point [and] every chance because the chance can be gone in a very small moment.

"I think for me the most important thing will be to focus on my own service games, then try to figure something out on return."

The second semi final between Opelka and Mpetshi Perricard gets underway from 9:30pm AEDT.

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