Preview ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships: Former champions Medvedev & Rublev lead stacked draw
ATP
Everything is ready for the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, an ATP 500 tournament set to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from February 24 to March 1, 2025, at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.
All eight seeds are ranked inside the top 20, with five of them sitting within the world's top 12. The field is led by former champions Daniil Medvedev (2023) and Andrey Rublev (2022), along with Alex De Minaur and Jack Draper.
Past Champions and Records
Defending champion Ugo Humbert enters the tournament as the 5th seed, carrying strong momentum after claiming his first title of the season at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille, France. The world No. 15 defeated Serbian rising star Hamad Medjedovic in the final without dropping a set, securing back-to-back titles in Marseille.
Other former champions in the draw include Rublev and Medvedev, along with past finalists such as Stefanos Tsitsipas (2019, 2020), Jiri Vesely (2022), and Alexander Bublik (2024).
Roger Federer holds the record for the most titles in Dubai, winning eight times between 2003 and 2019, followed by Novak Djokovic, who has lifted the trophy five times between 2009 and 2020.
Top Contenders
By ranking, the tournament favourite is Daniil Medvedev (No. 6), followed closely by Alex De Minaur (No. 8), with both players leading their respective halves of the draw. However, Medvedev enters the event in poor form, holding a modest 6-4 record in 2025 and sitting at No. 34 in the ATP Race—far from the standards expected of the 2021 US Open champion. Additionally, the Russian withdrew mid-match in the Doha Open quarterfinals against Felix Auger-Aliassime, citing physical issues after losing the first set (3-6, ret.).
On the other hand, De Minaur continues his steady rise, showing no signs of struggling with the pressure after breaking into the top 10 at the end of 2024. The Australian had previously played this week at the Mexican Open, where he won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, but this year, he opted for the Middle East swing, competing in Qatar (quarterfinal loss) and Dubai. His 10-3 record this season includes losses only to top-10 opponents—Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Andrey Rublev. He faces a tough challenge in different conditions compared to Mexico, and he must defend 500 points from last year.
Andrey Rublev (No. 9) is gaining momentum after securing his 17th career title in Doha last Saturday. The Russian defeated both De Minaur and Auger-Aliassime en route to the final before overpowering Jack Draper to claim the trophy. His dominant serving throughout the week makes him a strong threat in Dubai, where conditions are similar to Doha.
Jack Draper (No. 12) also arrives in good form despite losing in his first final of the season. The Brit climbed to a career-high ranking of No. 12, and unlike previous seasons, he looked physically solid despite playing several three-set matches last week.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 11) has historically played well in Mexico, but his poor start to 2025 (2-4 record) is concerning. He has suffered three first-round exits in four tournaments this year, making Dubai a crucial opportunity to regain confidence and avoid further drops in the rankings.
Holger Rune (No. 13), Ben Shelton (No. 14), and Ugo Humbert (No. 15) are also among the main names to watch. All three have won titles and beaten top-10 opponents in the past. Rune is coming back from an injury sustained at the Argentina Open, while Shelton must recover from a surprising second-round loss in Dallas to Jaume Munar.
One of the most in-form player heading into the tournament might be Humbert, who won the Open 13 Provence two weeks ago and skipped the Qatar Open to rest. As the defending champion, he remains a strong contender, though he faces a tough first-round match against Jiri Lehecka.
Other Names to Watch
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (No. 29) returns after 40 Days
The 21-year-old Frenchman has quickly made a name for himself as a dangerous opponent on tour, arguably boasting the best serve in the game right now. He has already racked up an impressive 95 aces in just five matches this season, competing at the Brisbane International (semifinals) and the Australian Open (first round).
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Standing at 2.03m (6’8”), his serving stats are outstanding. He wins an average of 85% of his service points, and 48% of his serves go unreturned—a percentage higher than Reilly Opelka (42%) and Alexander Bublik (37%).
However, an injury forced him to withdraw from the Rotterdam Open, and he hasn't played a match in 40 days since his first-round loss to Gael Monfils at the Australian Open. It remains to be seen whether he will be match-ready for his Dubai debut against China's Zhizhen Zhang (No. 49).
Jiri Lehecka (No. 22): The giant slayer
The 22-year-old Czech has been one of the most in-form players in early 2025. Currently in the top 10 of the ATP Race, he won his first title of the season in Brisbane and has compiled an impressive 12-3 record. His only defeats have come against Novak Djokovic, Jack Draper, and Hubert Hurkacz (retired mid-match in Rotterdam).
Lehecka has become a nightmare for top players, defeating Grigor Dimitrov (twice), Andrey Rublev, and Carlos Alcaraz in recent weeks. If he maintains this level, he could be a serious contender in Dubai.
Matteo Berrettini (No. 30): Can he find consistency?
The Italian was once an undisputed member of the top 10 before injuries began to disrupt his career. A former Grand Slam finalist, his world No. 30 ranking does not reflect his true level when he is at his best. With one of the most powerful serves on tour, he recently claimed a statement win over Novak Djokovic in the first round of the Qatar Open.
Berrettini has 10 career wins over top-10 players and a strong record in finals, winning 10 titles from 16 appearances. Between April and July 2024, he reached four finals, lifting three trophies during that stretch. Though it has taken him time to regain his footing, the Italian is once again positioning himself among the best, despite struggling with consistency.
2025 ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Prize Money & Points Breakdown
| POINTS | PRIZE MONEY | |
| Winner | 500 points | $605,530 |
| Finalist | 300 points | $325,780 |
| Semi-finalists | 200 points | $173,620 |
| Quarter-finalists | 100 points | $88,700 |
| 2nd round | 50 points | $47,350 |
| 1st round | 0 points | $25,250 |
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