Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Semi-Finals Round-up | Medvedev impresses in outstanding victory over Auger-Aliassime while Griekspoor overcomes injury to defeat Rublev

The final lineup has been completed in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, with Daniil Medvedev highlighting the semi-final performances with an outstanding showing against Felix Auger-Aliassime, winning 6-4, 6-2 in a complete performance.

Already with a title in Brisbane, the former world number one has spoken about his fondness of fast courts which suit his game a lot more than slow courts which seem to be a lot more regular on the ATP Tour now. He suffered early exits in Rotterdam and Qatar but in Dubai he is looking back to his imperious best.

He needed to find a level like this with Auger-Aliassime one of the most inform players in the world currently. Since his disappointing retirement in the opening round of the Australian Open, the Canadian won the Open Occitanie before reaching the final of the ABN AMRO Open, losing to Alex de Minaur.

He was targeting a third final on the bounce as he looked to defend the points he earned from last year where he reached the final, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas. This would not be the case with even him unable to tame a rampant Medvedev. He won 88% of first serve points compared to the 64% of his opponent while not facing a single break point. He dropped just seven points on serve summing up the impenetrable force he was on the day.

The early stages were relatively even, but the signs were there that Medvedev would be a real threat. He was already piling the pressure on the Auger-Aliassime serve. Halfway through and Medvedev was boasting a higher percentage win rate on service but was unable to create any break chances.

This was until the final game of the set where a 24-shot rally is won by the Russian before an unforced error got him over the line. It was the first set Auger-Aliassime had lost in Dubai this week and only the second time he was broken.

It would only get worse for the 25-year-old as Medvedev continued to skyrocket. He dropped just two points on serve in the second set, both coming in the first game with one of which a double fault. He then got a crucial break to go 3-1 ahead and looked destined to reach a second final in Dubai.

He ended the match in style, returning an Auger-Aliassime with pinpoint accuracy down the line with his backhand to cement a second final in 2026 with his title credentials at an all-time high.

Tallon Griekspoor really went through it in the second semi-final, overcoming injury and a deadly Andrey Rublev to win 7-5, 7-6(6).

The determination to continue going after an injury at the end of the first set saw him manage to keep pace with his opponent. Both players were serving brilliantly and made it very hard to create any chances to break on each other serve. However, Griekspoor left his most clutch tennis to late on in the sets to get over the line in a dramatic showing in Dubai.

Similar to the match before, both players were not buckling when serving. Griekspoor was the more threatening with him utilising an attacking style of play as he looked to make on headway into Rublev’s serve but to no joy.

The Dutchman served first which allowed him to pile on that pressure, but Rublev did well to hold firm with some great shots and rallies being played out in front of a packed crowd. Rublev was the closest to going ahead, moving 30-0 ahead at 4-4 on his opponents serve before Griekspoor won four points in a row followed by the 29-year-old jeering himself up.

Rublev then created three break points, the first chances in the match. Despite Griekspoor looking uncomfortable, he managed to survive a huge scare with Rublev wasting a golden opportunity. It would get worse after the three-time ATP Tour title winner had a medical timeout. Out of nowhere he came and broke the serve with an exceptional return, taking the first set amid huge concerns over a possible injury.

The physios returned to the court, but he opted to soldier on. It looked like he was going to pay for these injury troubles as Rublev went 0-40 ahead but five consecutive points saw him prevent Rublev from finally breaking the serve.

It continued in the same pattern where the server was in control. This suited Griekspoor who eventually moved 5-4 ahead and one from winning the match. Some brilliant serving from Rublev forced a tiebreaker, and he ended up going 6-4 ahead in it. A massive return from Griekspoor saved the first one before a Rublev unforced error saw the match level at 6-6. Griekspoor then turned up the heat and won the next two points to somehow win the match, falling to the ground as he reaches a second ATP 500 final.

It is now three top 20 wins in a row. He defeated Alexander Bublik and Jakub Mensik ahead of this clash against Rublev, making it the first time he achieved this feat. A fourth on the trot will earn him a first ATP 500 title.