Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered a flawless performance on Saturday, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 to claim his maiden Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships crown.
The Greek star, who had reached the final for the third time in four appearances, captured his 12th career title in just 88 minutes, marking his first hard-court victory since his 2023 triumph in the Los Cabos Open, Mexico.
“There was no single factor that guaranteed this win; it was just pure willpower,” Tsitsipas reflected humbly.
“It’s such a relief to finally hold this trophy after three attempts. It’s been in the back of my mind, and now, I’m proud to say that I’ve achieved it. My opponent was exceptional, and I knew it was going to be a tough challenge. But I’m so proud of how I managed the pressure and rose to the occasion in the key moments.”
Making a return to the Dubai Tennis Championships after a five-year absence, Stefanos Tsitsipas carried with him the weight of past heartbreaks – having fallen short in the finals of 2019 to the legendary Roger Federer and again in 2020 to the indomitable Novak Djokovic.
But this time, the world No. 11 was resolute, his spirit ablaze with determination. He entered the tournament not merely seeking redemption but with a fierce resolve to transform his long-held dreams into a triumphant reality.
The world No. 21 from Canada broke his rival to gain a lead early in the opening set, but Tsitsipas weathered the early pressure and began to elevate his game.
Trailing 2-3, the six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist didn’t give any further room to the Canadian and rattled off four straight games, seizing the momentum to claim the first set.
Auger-Aliassime, who was chasing a third title of the new season after triumphs in Adelaide and Montpellier, refused to let go of the fight as he clung to hope in the second set.
Trying to stay afloat, Auger-Aliassime saved two break points in the third game, but despite his valiant efforts, the fleeting opportunities slipped through his grasp.
As the match progressed, the pressure mounted, and the 24-year-old found himself unravelling against Tsitsipas’s masterful all-court game.
En route to the final, the Greek rediscovered his brilliance on Dubai’s hardcourts, storming past Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, and the dangerous Matteo Berrettini before dispatching Tallon Griekspoor with clinical efficiency.
Auger-Aliassime carved a path of resilience through the tournament, displaying a warrior’s spirit with four gruelling three-set victories. From his opening triumph against the mercurial Alexander Bublik to a stunning comeback against Nuno Borges. Against Marin Cilic, he withstood firepower, and in the semi-finals, he battled past Quentin Halys.
Ball kid becomes doubles champion: Earlier, India’s Yuki Bhambri, alongside his Australian partner Alexei Popyrin, triumphed in a stunning display of skill and tenacity, clinching the doubles title.
In what was a captivating maiden ATP 500 doubles final for both players, Bhambri and Popyrin edged past the second-seeded duo of Finland’s Harri Heliovaara and Great Britain’s Henry Patten, with a thrilling 3-6, 7-6 (12), 10-8 victory.
“It was just about having fun on the court,” said Bhambri, who claimed his maiden ATP 500 title. “We went match by match… We were so close to losing in the first round, so it’s unbelievable to be in the finals and to win it – I don’t think I ever dreamt of that. Alexei (Popyrin) is an incredible player; we all know that he’s very good in singles, but I think he has a great doubles career ahead of him as well.”
Heliovaara and Patten, the reigning champions of both the US and Australian Open doubles, looked dominant in the opening set. They broke their opponents in the fourth game, asserting control and claiming the first set with confidence. Yet, Bhambri and Popyrin, undeterred by the setback, dug deep and brought a relentless energy to the second set.
The Indo-Australian duo forced their opponents into a tiebreak after saving a set point in the ninth game, with the set eventually culminating in a dramatic tiebreaker. Bhambri and Popyrin, showing incredible resolve, won it 14-12.
The final chapter of this gripping contest came in the form of a super tiebreaker, where the duo seized an early 8-5 lead. Despite Heliovaara and Patten managing to stave off four match points, the battle ultimately ended with Bhambri and Popyrin triumphing 10-8.
Amir Naqvi, Sports Editor
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