Auger-Aliassime and Medvedev set for high-stakes Dubai semifinal
Top-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev secured clinical quarterfinal victories on Thursday to set up a blockbuster semifinal at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Daniil Medvedev, 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
The “New Felix” is officially here, and he is on a direct collision course with a rejuvenated Daniil Medvedev. In a Thursday session that showcased the sheer efficiency of the tournament’s remaining giants, the world No. 8 and the world No. 11 delivered two very different but equally impressive statements of intent in Dubai.
Medvedev’s 58-Minute Masterclass
Daniil Medvedev, the No. 3 seed and a former world No. 1, looked every bit the defensive wall that claimed this title in 2023. Facing American Jenson Brooksby, a player known for his frustratingly unorthodox style, Medvedev turned the match into a lopsided tutorial. In just 58 minutes, the Russian dismantled Brooksby 6-2, 6-1, surrendering only three games in what was arguably his best performance of the season.
Medvedev, who has looked untouchable this week with straight-set wins over Stan Wawrinka and Juncheng Shang, showed no signs of the physical fatigue that hampered him at the start of the year.
His serve was the primary weapon, providing him with cheap points that allowed him to conserve energy for the deep-court rallies he thrives on. For Brooksby, who had upset Karen Khachanov earlier in the week, there were simply no answers for Medvedev’s relentless depth and court coverage.
Auger-Aliassime’s February Surge
While Medvedev was a whirlwind, the tournament’s top seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime, had to work a bit harder to book his place in the final four. The Canadian world No. 8 defeated eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6(2) in a match defined by high-quality baseline exchanges and clutch serving.
Auger-Aliassime has been the man of the month. This victory over Lehecka marks his 11th win in his last 12 matches, a run that included a successful title defense in Montpellier and a runner-up finish in Rotterdam.
Against Lehecka, Felix was particularly impressive in the second-set tiebreak, where he raised his level to win seven of the final nine points. After navigating tricky early-round matches against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Zhizhen Zhang, the Canadian appears to be peaking just in time for the tournament’s business end.
A Rivalry Reimagined
The upcoming semifinal marks another chapter in a rivalry that has undergone a dramatic transformation. For years, Medvedev was the immovable object in Auger-Aliassime’s path, winning their first seven professional meetings and often breaking the Canadian’s heart in Grand Slam quarterfinals.
However, the tide has turned. Auger-Aliassime has won their last two encounters, including a statement win at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a hard-court victory in Doha last season. While Medvedev remains the higher-seeded threat in terms of tournament pedigree, the Canadian’s recent dominance in February suggests he holds the mental edge.
