Medvedev cruises to Dubai final on the cusp of repeat
Daniil Medvedev’s straight-sets mastery over Felix Auger-Aliassime propels him toward a career first: repeating a title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where history hangs in the balance against Andrey Rublev or Tallon Griekspoor.
In the crisp evening air of Dubai, Daniil Medvedev dismantled Felix Auger-Aliassime with the quiet efficiency of a player finally syncing with his ambitions. The 6-4, 6-2 scoreline masked the depth of his control, as deep groundstrokes pinned the Canadian back, forcing errors in the baseline grind. Now one win from etching his name twice on the same trophy—something his 22 unique tour-level titles have never allowed—this semifinal felt like the hinge of a season already strong at 13-3.
Medvedev entered this 10th clash riding a wave of straight-set wins over Shang Juncheng, Stan Wawrinka, and Jenson Brooksby, each match sharpening his edge on these medium-fast hard courts. Against Auger-Aliassime, he blunted the power with heavy topspin, varying crosscourt angles to disrupt rhythm and pull forehands wide. The Russian’s returns hugged the lines, turning defense into pressure that the No. 11 in the PIF ATP Rankings couldn’t escape.
“It has been an amazing four matches, probably playing better and better each match, today being the best performance,” Medvedev said. “If I can put an even better performance tomorrow, I will have my chances to win and that is what I am going to try to do.”
Baseline depth dictates the flow
Medvedev’s strategy leaned on unrelenting depth, his one–two pattern of serve and immediate deep return keeping Auger-Aliassime pinned without room for inside-in winners. The Canadian’s flat forehand, a weapon in Montpellier just weeks ago, faltered against the high-bouncing topspin, leading to unforced errors that tilted the exchanges. As the crowd sensed the shift, murmurs turned to applause, the Russian absorbing pace and redirecting it with economical footwork.
This wasn’t raw power but calculated retrieval, slices dipping low to jam the forehand side and force awkward replies. Auger-Aliassime aimed for a second straight Dubai final, but Medvedev’s precision—winning 80 percent of first-serve points—exposed gaps in his aggression. The 82-minute match highlighted how hard-court pace favors Medvedev’s style, improving his head-to-head to 8-2.
Breaks arrive at critical junctures
The first set turned at 4-5, 30/40, when Auger-Aliassime’s forehand drifted wide under a crosscourt barrage, handing Medvedev the opener and breathing room. In the second, at 1-2, another long forehand gifted the break, allowing the third seed to consolidate with down-the-line backhands that sniped the corners. These moments stemmed from mid-rally adjustments, where Medvedev shortened points to exploit fatigue and maintain tempo.
Auger-Aliassime’s serve, potent earlier in the week, buckled under returns that targeted second serves, his errors climbing as the pressure mounted. For the Canadian, now shifting focus to the BNP Paribas Open—the season’s first ATP Masters 1000—this defeat carries tactical notes for Indian Wells’ similar surfaces. Medvedev closed with a clean backhand winner, the ball skimming the line as the net cord hummed in approval.
Repeat glory beckons in the desert
With his 2023 Dubai triumph as blueprint, Medvedev eyes Saturday’s final against Andrey Rublev or Tallon Griekspoor, both familiar foes on hard courts. Rublev’s baseline firepower demands aggressive returns, while Griekspoor’s serve-volley mixes test retrieval depth—adjustments Medvedev has honed this week. His Brisbane title in January marked his 20th hard-court win, but repeating here would rewrite the narrative of one-off successes.
The atmosphere thickened post-match, fans drawn to the tension of uncharted ground for a player who’s thrived on variety. Medvedev’s form, peaking now, blends mental reset with tactical evolution, positioning him to seize the trophy and ease the weight of history. As Dubai’s lights dimmed, the path forward pulsed with possibility, one precise stroke from legacy.
