Dimitrov withdraws for the third time in 2025 at the Dubai tournament

Grigor Dimitrov has had a complicated start to the season. The Bulgarian, who started the year in the top 10, has not been spared by his hip.

After reaching the semi-finals in Brisbane, the former world number 3 was forced to retire in the first set of his semi-final against Jiri Lehecka.

The defending champion had thus failed to defend his trophy. But things didn't get any better during the Australian Open.

In the very first round, he threw in the towel against Italian lucky loser Francesco Passaro at the start of the second set, even though he had conceded the first.

At 33, Dimitrov seems to be struggling to recover from this injury. After making his return to competition in Doha last week (first-round loss to Lehecka), the 2017 ATP Finals winner retired for the third time this season, this time at the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai.

Seeded number 6, he was up against Australian qualifier Christopher O'Connell. But things didn't go according to plan for Dimitrov, who didn't register a single game in the first set.

After only half an hour's play, the Bulgarian decided not to continue, sending his opponent, against whom he had never lost in three previous encounters, into the last 16.

The bad run continues for Dimitrov, who hasn't won a match on the ATP circuit since his quarter-final in Brisbane, where he in turn benefited from Jordan Thompson's withdrawal.

As a reminder, Dimitrov had already been forced to retire in the middle of a match at the US Open (against Tiafoe) and at Wimbledon (against Daniil Medvedev) last season.