Photo : Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Félix Auger-Aliassime did an impressive job battling to the Dubai final, but he did not have enough left in the tank to tackle Stefanos Tsitsipas for the title. The Canadian was defeated by the Greek in his first outdoor ATP 500 final on a hard court on Saturday in straight sets.
After four consecutive three-setters leading into the final, Auger-Aliassime finally met his match with the title on the line. Tsitsipas held off an early push from the Canadian before turning the tables and powering to a 6-3, 6-3, win.
Even in defeat, Auger-Aliassime now leads the ATP Tour in total finals in 2025 with three and in match wins with 16.
Tsitsipas was clutch when it mattered most in the final, seemingly always able to find a first serve when facing a break point. Auger-Aliassime actually had more chances to break in the match but could not convert any of his seven opportunities. The Greek managed three breaks on six break points. The serve was also not as effective as it often is for the Canadian, as he only struck four aces and won 71 per cent of first-serve points, while his opponent won 83 per cent.
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The two men wasted little time in bringing a high intensity to the final, exchanging big blows right from the opening game. At 2-1, a huge return by the Canadian led to a double break point opening, but Tsitsipas had the answers, saving both with some impressive hitting of his own.
Auger-Aliassime seemed set to keep his nose ahead when he led 40-love at 3-3, but he let the lead slip away. A big forehand from the Greek then created a break point where the Montrealer missed his own forehand wide to give away a shocking break. Auger-Aliassime had two chances to break back in the following game but again Tsitsipas had the answers, saving them with a big serve and forehand winner.
Now in full flow, Tsitsipas broke again in the final game to wrap up the opening set.
Both men had chances to break early in the second but neither was successful. They nearly had a full role reversal from the opener when at 3-3, it was Tsitsipas’ turn to blow a 40-love lead and find himself facing a break point, but he was able to save it by coaxing a forehand into the net from the Canadian.
That miss proved costly for Auger-Aliassime as every remaining game after that went to his opponent. A forehand miss in the following game gave the Greek a pair of break points and another put Tsitsipas within a game of victory at 5-3. Tsitsipas served the match out to love.
By reaching the final in Dubai, Auger-Aliassime will return to the Top 20 in the ATP rankings. He will be seeded next week at the first Masters 1000 event of the year in Indian Wells.
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