Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Round-Up | Jakub Mensik holds nerve against Hurkacz while Stefanos Tsitsipas exits early

The ATP 500 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships continued with Day Two action, as several top names took to the court in the opening round. The day was highlighted by Jakub Mensik’s composed victory over Hubert Hurkacz in a tight battle between two of the Tour’s strongest servers.

There was also a notable result for Ugo Humbert, who knocked out Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, while Alexander Bublik progressed comfortably against Jan-Lennard Struff. Below is a breakdown of some of the key matches that took place on the second day in Dubai.

Jakub Mensik continues to impress on hard courts, securing a 6-4, 7-6(7) victory over Hubert Hurkacz in one of the standout matches of the day. In a contest between two of the Tour’s biggest servers, it was the small details that ultimately made the difference.

The first set followed a predictable pattern, with both players holding serve comfortably through the early stages. The decisive moment came at 4-5, when Hurkacz delivered an erratic service game and Mensik capitalised on his first break opportunity to take the set after 37 minutes.

The second set remained tight throughout. Hurkacz did not face a break point until serving at 4-5, when he found himself down 15-40 — both chances doubling as match points for the Czech. The Pole responded with strong first serves to level at 5-5 and eventually force a tie-break.

In the breaker, Hurkacz again saved two match points, including one on return, but Mensik kept his composure in the closing exchanges. The Czech was particularly dominant behind his first serve, winning 95% (35/37) of those points, while striking 10 aces and holding all 11 of his service games. He now advances to the next round with growing confidence.

Alexander Bublik produced a composed and efficient performance to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4 and secure his place in the second round in Dubai. The Kazakh relied heavily on his serve from the outset, striking 12 aces and winning 83% of points behind his first delivery. Against a player like Struff — who is also comfortable in quick conditions — maintaining scoreboard pressure was key, and Bublik managed that consistently throughout the match.

After a relatively balanced opening stretch, Bublik began to assert himself midway through the first set. He applied pressure on return and capitalised on his opportunities, converting one of three break points while saving all three he faced on his own serve. From that moment on, he rarely allowed Struff to dictate.

The second set followed a similar script. Bublik continued to hold comfortably, winning 59% of points on his second serve and maintaining a high level of focus in the shorter rallies. Struff struggled to make inroads on return, winning just 17% of first-serve return points and failing to create sustained pressure in the closing stages.

In total, Bublik held all nine of his service games and proved effective on return as well, winning 32% of first-serve return points and 57% on Struff’s second serve — numbers that underlined his control of the match. With the victory, Bublik advances to the second round, where he will face Tallon Griekspoor. The Dutchman also progressed in straight sets, setting up a matchup between two aggressive baseline players comfortable in fast hard-court conditions.

Ugo Humbert delivered one of the most significant results of the day, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 7-5 to advance in straight sets and continue his solid run on hard courts. The Frenchman was sharp from the outset, landing 75% of his first serves and winning 77% of those points. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, was efficient behind his own first delivery, claiming 86%, but struggled whenever rallies extended into second-serve exchanges. That difference proved crucial over the course of the match.

In the opening set, Humbert showed consistency from the baseline and remained aggressive in the key moments. He converted his opportunities while limiting mistakes, and once ahead on the scoreboard, he protected his service games without facing serious danger. Tsitsipas had limited looks on return and was unable to build sustained pressure.

The second set followed a similar pattern. Both players held comfortably through the early games, but Humbert continued to dictate on the important points. The Frenchman won 69% of points behind his second serve, compared to Tsitsipas’ 45%, a statistic that gradually tilted the match in his favour. At 5-5, Humbert raised his level once more, securing the decisive break before serving out the match with composure. He finished without dropping a service game, saving all three break points he faced and holding 11 out of 11 service games overall.