Published: 11:40, May 3, 2024
Medvedev withdraws from Madrid Open as Lehecka advances into semis
By Reuters
Daniil Medvedev of Russia serves to Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, on May 2, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

MADRID - Czech Jiri Lehecka progressed to the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on Thursday after world number four Daniil Medvedev quit the match with a groin problem after losing the first set.

Third seed Medvedev requested a medical time out while leading 3-2 and continued to visibly struggle to move after coming back onto the court.

Lehecka, who knocked out Rafa Nadal in the last 16, then broke Medvedev to take a 4-5 lead and took the set 6-4 before Medvedev told the umpire he could not continue the match.

Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the 2024 ATP Tour Madrid Open tournament quarter-final tennis match at Caja Magica in Madrid on May 2, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

Lehecka will face Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals on Friday.

READ MORE: Sinner outlasts Medvedev to win maiden Australian Open title

The 23-year-old Canadian was due to face top seed Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals but the Italian pulled out from the tournament with a right hip injury on Wednesday.

Russian seventh seed Andrey Rublev will play Taylor Fritz, seeded 12th, in the other semi-final.