Medvedev eyes historic title defence as Auger-Aliassime awaits in Dubai semi-final
Russian chases rare repeat triumph after dominant quarter-final display
DUBAI – Daniil Medvedev is once again moving with purpose on the hard courts of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, but this time there is more at stake than a place in the final.
The 2023 champion has built a glittering career of 22 titles across the globe, yet none have come twice in the same city. That long-standing anomaly now stands within touching distance of ending.
The former world No. 1, contesting his sixth appearance in the emirate, delivered one of the most commanding performances of the week on Thursday to surge into the semi-finals. With ruthless efficiency and scarcely a moment of vulnerability, the No. 3 seed dismantled American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-1 in just 57 minutes on Centre Court.
Ruthless display
Under a blazing afternoon sun, Medvedev imposed himself from the outset. Ranked world No. 49, Brooksby struggled to gain any foothold as the Russian dictated play from the baseline, striking forehands with depth and backhands of laser-like precision.
Two early breaks secured the opening set inside half an hour. Any hope of resistance quickly evaporated when Medvedev broke again at the start of the second, accelerating towards victory without facing a single break point. It was only their second career meeting and, as in Miami nearly four years ago, Medvedev advanced in straight sets.
“I’m really happy with my level and feel I’m getting better and better every match,” said Medvedev, who will now contest his 53rd hard-court semi-final. Among active players, only Novak Djokovic has reached as many at this level. “I feel like I play well in Dubai. I like the court, it plays pretty fast, which is not so common on the Tour right now, so it feels great and I’m looking forward to the semis.”
A second title of the season, following his triumph in Brisbane, is now within reach. More significantly, he stands on the brink of defending a trophy for the first time in his career.
Felix fires
Standing between Medvedev and that milestone is top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who advanced with authority of his own. The Canadian overcame No8 seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (2), navigating a competitive second-set tiebreak with composure.
Auger-Aliassime’s serve proved decisive. He struck 16 aces, won 83 percent of points behind his first delivery, and faced just two break points throughout the contest, saving both. A pair of aces sealed the tiebreak, underlining his clinical edge at the crucial moments.
“It was difficult with the shade and the wind at the start of the match, but I think the second set was a very high level,” he said. “He served great and I had to dig deep in that tiebreak to stay sharp, stay precise, and then be clinical.”
The 25-year-old now reaches a third consecutive semi-final, having already contested finals in Montpellier and Rotterdam this month. He is also two wins away from avenging last year’s title-match defeat in Dubai to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Head-to-head
Friday night’s encounter will mark the 10th meeting between Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime. Although the Russian leads their rivalry 7-2 overall, the Canadian has not lost to him since the 2024 Australian Open.
The familiarity extends beyond match statistics. Both players are based in Monaco and have trained together during the off-season, giving each an intimate understanding of the other’s patterns and preferences.
“He's gotten the better of me many times,” Auger-Aliassime said. “He was No. 1 in the world, a Grand Slam champion. He's one of the greatest players of our generation. At times he never misses, so I'm going to need to find a way to make him miss a few balls.
“We both live in Monaco and trained together there. I felt he was playing really well in the off-season. Maybe he didn’t get exactly the results he wanted, but he’s here and we’re both in the semi-finals playing good tennis. He’s yet to drop a set this week too, so it’s going to be tough.”
The championship, owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, continues until Saturday. Ticket prices start from Dh65, with availability across remaining sessions.