Rafael Nadal's tennis comeback cut short as Jordan Thompson ...

Australia's Jordan Thompson has stunned Rafael Nadal 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 in what may be the Spanish great's final appearance in Brisbane.

Thompson saved a handful of match points in the second set before taking it.

The Australian then broke Nadal early in the final set before drama took hold on Pat Rafter Arena.

At 4-1 down in the third set Nadal massaged what appeared to be his hip flexor before going off the court for treatment.

Nadal missed nearly all of 2023 after injuring his hip at the Australian Open.

When the 22-times slam champion came back he seemed to be hampered when moving to his backhand side and Thompson took advantage to close out the match.

He picked on the backhand with the serve before closing out the match on an epic rally when a Nadal backhand sailed long.

Thompson will play second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinal.(Getty: Chris Hyde)

"That was something special," Thompson said.

"I forgot I saved match points but to beat Rafa in Brissy at home and it's my first semifinal on a hardcourt, I couldn't be happier."

Thompson will play second seed Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinal.

Earlier, Holger Rune ended James Duckworth's Brisbane run, but the top seed didn't get it all his own way in a 6-2 7-6 (8-6) quarter-final triumph.

The world No.8 will play in-form Russian Roman Safiullin for a spot in the Brisbane International final on Sunday, potentially against fit-again Rafael Nadal.

The Danish 20-year-old was pushed in the one-hour, 45-minute tussle on Pat Rafter Arena against 31-year-old Duckworth, who reached Brisbane's last eight in 2015 — when Rune was just 11.

But Duckworth, who leapt back into the world's top 100 thanks to his run through qualifying, was made to regret some untimely unforced errors among his 20 in total, to go with just 16 winners.

Rune broke twice in a one-sided first set, then resisted the pressure that came in the second, with Duckworth saving two match points before eventually conceding.

"It was a really good match, especially the first set,'' Rune said.

"I started strong, put him under pressure and was feeling good with my shots.

"He changed the strategy a bit (in the second set) … I'm happy I was able to close it in two sets, I feel great."

Safiullin, who saved five match points against Australian Alexei Popyrin in the second round, eased past Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 earlier on Friday.

Rejuvenated Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov has imposed himself in a 6-1 6-4 defeat of Australian Rinky Hijikata.

Hijikata, who is set to move back to an equal career-high ranking of No.70 in the world, hung tough in the second set after being wiped off the court in a clinical first set by the 2017 Brisbane champion.

Rinky Hijikata has lost his quarterfinal match to Grigor Dimitrov.(AAP: Jono Searle)

Danish world No.8 Rune will play in-form Russian Roman Safiullin for a spot in Sunday's Brisbane International final, potentially against Nadal.

However, Dimitrov might have a say in that, the 32-year-old second seed showing the form that's rocketed him back to No.14 in the world.

He will face the winner of Nadal and Australian Jordan Thompson, who are last to play on Pat Rafter Arena on Friday night.

ABC/Wires