Match report
Tsitsipas sinks the Auger Aliassize in Dubai, Maiden ATP captures 500 titles
The 26-year-old returns to the top 10 PIF ATP ranking with the 12th tour level trophy
March 01, 2025
Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images
Stefanos Tsitsipas claims his first ATP 500 title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
By Jerome Coombe
Stefanos Tsitsipas made sure that on Saturday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was Lucky for the third time.
The fourth seed produced a high quality performance to sink Felix Auger-Aliasseime 6-3, 6-3 and to claim his 12th title at tour level. After Tsitsipas lost the final in Dubai in 2019 against Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in 2019 in 2019, he resolved its Maiden ATP 500 Crown and his first hardcourt trophy since Los Cabos in 2023.
“There is nothing that ensured victory today, it was just pure fights,” said Tsitsipas. “It is a great relief that I can keep this trophy after the third attempt. It is something I had in mind and I’m glad to say that I did it. I had a big opponent on the other side of the network, I knew it was a difficult task. I am only proud of the way I managed the pressure and was able to perform at these crucial moments. “
The wait is over
@steftsitsipas Shakes off the curse of the ATP 500 finals to win its 12th ATP tour title!
@Ddftennis | #Ddftennis pic.twitter.com/prvyuug0kl
– ATP Tour (@atptour) March 1, 2025
Tsitsipas entered Dubai with a 3-4 record in the season and fought for the form of 2025. But with a first title since the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo last year, he took his step again. The one-hour, 28-minute victory of the Greek against Auger-Aliaside also achieved its record in the ATP 500 final (1-11) and guaranteed his return to the top 10 of the PIF ATP ranking on Monday for the first time since May. The 26-year-old improved 7: 3 in his Lexus ATP Head2head series with auer-basime series.
“These are the things we are fighting as professional tennis players,” added Tsitsipas, who will return to World No. 9 on Monday. “Having a place in the top 10 is definitely one of the greatest feelings that a tennis player can experience. It comes with hard work and victims, but I am glad that I am in a position in which I can really celebrate. “
AUGER-ALSASSIME, who headed the ATP tour in Siegen (16) this season, followed his third title of 2025 after he had hit in Adelaide and Montpellier. However, Canadian No. 1 was unable to conjure up an answer to the basic brilliance of Tsitsipas, which according to Infosys ATP statistics commanded in the extended rallies and saved all seven break points.
“Wasn’t like this tonight, but congratulations to Stefanos and his team,” said Auger-Aliasside. “We have known each other for a long time, but tonight they played at a very high level – I can certainly say that. I will urge it to get better, and hopefully we will have more chances to play finals in the future. “
Auger-aliaside had contested four three-set fights to reach the final on Saturday, but it was the Canadian who appeared in the early phases of the freshness of the two. However, Tsitsipas was certain and increased its level, taking four consecutive games from 2 to 3 to claim the start. The most important turning point of the set turned out to be in the seventh game, in which the Greek won five consecutive points of 40/0 to run away with the first set.
Eye aliases that won a eighth ATP tour title, dig deeply into the touch in the second set. He saved two Break points in the third game, but could not convert any of the three he created. The 24-year-old finally became through the all-court capabilities of Tsitsipas, who mixed his relentless basic strokes with exquisite touch on the way to his greatest hardcourt trophy since the triumph of the Nitto ATP final in 2019 with exquisite contact.
