Stefanos Tsitsipas is back in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final – again. Yep, for the third time in just four appearances, the Greek star is making a habit of showing up when it matters most in the emirate. But will this finally be his moment? Will he shake off the ghosts of past Dubai heartbreaks? Or will Felix Auger-Aliassime crash the party? One thing’s for sure: Saturday’s final is set to be a blockbuster.
The Road to the Final – A Tale of Late Nights and Tight Battles
Tsitsipas’ journey to the final hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Sure, he breezed past Tallon Griekspoor in the semis, wrapping things up in a tidy 6-4, 6-4 straight-sets win. But let’s not forget the drama leading up to it. Late-night, three-set marathons against Karen Khachanov and Matteo Berrettini had him grinding well into the early hours.
“Finally, I can have an early night,” Tsitsipas joked after his semi-final win. And honestly, who can blame him? At this point, the man probably knows the Dubai skyline better at 2 AM than most people do during daylight hours.
Composure, Control, and a Dash of Revenge
Against Griekspoor, Tsitsipas played with the kind of calmness that’s often been missing in his game. No wild momentum swings. No unnecessary drama. Just clean, focused tennis. The first set was a masterclass in efficiency—four aces, a crucial break, and total control. By the time Griekspoor called for a medical timeout, the writing was on the wall. Tsitsipas smelled blood and never let up, cruising to his 30th career final without breaking much of a sweat (for once).
But let’s talk about the elephant in the room – this is his third final here, and he’s still hunting for his first Dubai title. The last two times, he ran into guys named Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. No shame in losing to those legends, but it’s safe to say he’d love to finally lift the trophy.
The Final Showdown – Tsitsipas vs. Auger-Aliassime
Standing between Tsitsipas and the title? Felix Auger-Aliassime, one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour right now. The Canadian has already won two titles this year, and with 16 wins in 2025, he’s practically collecting victories like they’re souvenirs. Oh, and he loves a three-set thriller. Every single one of his matches this week has gone the distance, but that hasn’t stopped him from bulldozing his way to another final.
Tsitsipas leads their head-to-head 6-3, but here’s the catch—they haven’t faced off since late 2023. And Tsitsipas knows things have changed.
“I feel like he has improved,” he admitted. “I’m not expecting the same type of Felix I’ve played before.” Translation: This is going to be a dogfight.
What’s at Stake?
For Tsitsipas, it’s about finally getting over the Dubai hump. A win here would mark his first outdoor hardcourt title in 18 months – a stat that seems almost bizarre for someone of his caliber. For Auger-Aliassime, it’s about making it three titles in the first two months of the season and proving he’s a legit force in 2025.
Who’s got the edge? If Tsitsipas brings the same level-headed, no-nonsense tennis he displayed against Griekspoor, he could finally end his Dubai curse. But if Auger-Aliassime turns this into another one of his three-set rollercoasters, all bets are off.
One way or another, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is about to get a new champion – and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
