Auger-Aliassime maintains rhythm, sets Tsitsipas showdown in Dubai

It may not have been plain sailing on Friday, but Felix Auger-Aliassime is into the final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The 24-year-old continued his standout start to 2025 by rallying past qualifier Quentin Halys 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to reach his maiden ATP 500 final on outdoor hard courts. Auger-Aliassime, who won titles in Adelaide and Montpellier this year, produced an expertly measured response to Halys’ big-hitting to advance to three finals in a season for the first time since 2022. The Canadian's two-hour, 16-minute win was his fourth deciding-set victory of the week.

“I don’t know how I pulled it through today,” said Auger-Aliassime, who is up to No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. “I only played three-setters this week, we were both feeling a bit tired I think. It was just [about] having positive self talk, I think everyone can relate. When we’re having a tough day, just to have a pep talk and stay positive. I did that well and dug deep physically, so I’m really happy it paid off today.”

Having overcome Halys in a deciding-set tie-break in the first round in Doha last week, Auger-Aliassime knew that he was going to have to dig deep once more against the Frenchman, who stunned World No. 9 Andrey Rublev in his opener for the biggest win of his career. Yet the Canadian kept his cool in the crucial moments to record a 16th victory in 2025 — the most of any player on Tour.

“It’s never easy, coming from Doha you feel a bit tired,” Auger-Aliassime said when asked of his standout start to the season. “But it’s the same challenge for everyone, that’s what is interesting. It’s [about] who’s going to be sharp when they need to, and win the important points. It’s never easy, but I feel more and more confident that I have the solutions to come through matches like this.”

With his run to the last four in Dubai, Halys is up to a new career high of No. 59 in the PIF ATP Rankings. After improving to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Halys, Auger-Aliassime will face fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Heading into Friday’s semi-final, Halys held a 5-0 record in tie-breaks in the tournament, having played one in every match, and it appeared as if he was going to be forced into another one against Auger-Aliassime. Yet the 24-year-old, who saved three set points in his service game prior, fluffed his lines at 5-6, 40/15. He hit three unforced errors, including a double fault, to gift the opening set to the qualifier.

Auger-Aliassime, chasing an 18th ATP Tour final, sprung into life in the fifth game of the second set, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the contest. The Canadian No. 1 scrambled from corner to corner, digging out Halys’ smash with a flicked winner under his feet to set up break point, which he converted and backed up with an assertive finish to the set.

The No. 21 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Auger-Aliassime rode his momentum into a dominant final set, in which he raised his level behind serve. He saved both of the break points he faced and won 93 per cent (14/15) of points behind his first delivery according to Infosys ATP Stats.

On Saturday, Auger-Aliassime will reignite his rivalry with Tsitsipas, who delivered a high-quality display to see off Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-4 and reach his first hard-court final since he won Los Cabos in 2023. Tsitsipas controlled from the baseline and limited Griekspoor’s ability to attack at the forecourt as he reached his 30th tour-level final.

“I feel extremely happy that I was able to avoid the drama today, and play good tennis from the beginning until the end,” said Tsitsipas, who improved to 14-4 in Dubai. “It felt good. I was doing a great job from the baseline and I felt that my focus levels were at their highest so far, from any match I’ve played this week.”

Tsitsipas entered the tournament with a 3-4 record on the season, but appears to be nearing his best with a string of impressive performances in Dubai. The 11-time tour-level champion and former World No. 3 used his backhand to key effect throughout his one-hour, 23-minute semi-final with Griekspoor, but it was particularly potent in the opening set, during which he posted a 9.9 Backhand Quality, according to TDI Insights.

“I’m trying to take the best out of every match,” Tsitsipas said of his season. “Every match has a new teaching, something new to offer me in terms of experience and knowledge, I’m trying to soak it all in and use that wisdom effectively.”

Having not competed in Dubai since 2020, Tsitsipas is into his third consecutive final at the ATP 500 event. The Greek fell short to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in the 2019 and 2020 finals, respectively. If he is successful against Auger-Aliassime in Saturday’s title tilt, Tsitsipas will return to the Top 10 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time since last June.

By improving to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Griekspoor, Tsitsipas became the eighth active player to reach more than 30 tour-level finals.

Griekspoor, who saved four match points to stun top seed Daniil Medvedev for the biggest win of his career on Thursday, was chasing his first ATP Tour final since 2023. Yet the Dutchman took a medical time-out after the first set and was ultimately unable to produce a response to Tsitsipas’ scintillating groundstrokes. The Greek was also commanding behind his serve and did not face break point.