Grigor Dimitrov ended his participation in the ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane after withdrawing due to injury midway through the second set in his match with Jiri Lehecszka. The Czech had won the first set of the semifinal clash 6-4, and in the second the score was tied 4-4.
The Bulgarian tennis player is a two-time champion in Brisbane and was defending his title from last year, having recorded three clean victories so far this week. In the first set, Lehecszka made the key breakthrough in the fifth game, then took his serves to lead in the score. In the second set, the two took their serves until 4-4, when Dimitrov retired. The Czech did not give Grigor a single chance to break through throughout the match.
Dimitrov felt pain at 4-4 and requested a medical timeout in the locker room, and upon his return to the court, he played only one point, after which he gave up. It is still unclear what the Bulgarian's injury is and whether it will prevent him from participating in the Australian Open, which begins on January 12.
In the final, Lehecszka will play against American Riley Opelka or young Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perikar. | BGNES
