Tsitsipas defeats Auger-Aliassime to win Dubai title
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Stefanos Tsitsipas has secured his first ATP 500 title by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 in the Dubai Championships final.
The world No.11 had lost all 11 previous finals he played in ATP 500 events — including in Dubai in 2019 and 2020 — but needed just under 90 minutes to claim his first title of 2025.
“It’s a big relief that I’m able to hold that trophy after the third attempt,” said Tsitsipas, who lost to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in his previous two Dubai finals.
“It’s something that I had in the back of my mind, and I’m happy to say I accomplished it.”
The Greek player won the last four games of the first set and then clinched the win with an ace on his first match point.
Tsitsipas saved all seven break points he faced to improve to 7-3 against Auger-Aliassime.
The victory will lift the Greek player back into the top 10 for the first time since May.
Auger-Aliassime, an unseeded Canadian, had made a strong start to the season, winning tournaments in Adelaide in January and Montpellier in February.
“I had a great opponent on the other side of the net, I knew it was a difficult task,” said Tsitsipas.
“I’m just proud of the way I managed the pressure and was able to perform in those crucial moments.”
The 26-year-old dominated from the baseline. He did not drop serve, despite facing break points twice in each set. In the first set he broke the Canadian in the seventh and ninth games and in the second took the decisive break in the eighth game.
Tsitsipas, who was ranked No.3 in the world in early 2023 but had slipped to 11th, will move up to ninth when the updated ATP rankings are released on Monday.
“These are the things we are fighting for as professional tennis players,” said Tsitsipas.
“To be owning a spot in the top 10 is definitely one of the greatest feelings a tennis player can experience. It comes with hard work and sacrifices, but I’m happy that I’m in a position where I can really celebrate.”
With PA and AFP
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
