Medvedev secures Dubai title after Griekspoor withdrawal
A significant hamstring injury forced Tallon Griekspoor to withdraw hours before the Dubai final, handing Daniil Medvedev a technical victory that breaks his career-long “no repeat city” curse.
Daniil Medvedev, Dubai 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
The 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships concluded on an anti-climactic note this Saturday as Daniil Medvedev was officially crowned champion following the late withdrawal of Tallon Griekspoor.
What promised to be a high-stakes clash between the tournament’s most consistent performer (Medvedev) and its most resilient underdog (Griekspoor) was cut short by a medical reality that has sidelined the Dutchman for the foreseeable future.
Griekspoor, who had battled through a grueling semi-final against Andrey Rublev while visibly hampered, visited a local hospital early this morning for evaluation. Scans confirmed a significant hamstring injury, which the world No. 25 later revealed would keep him off the court not just today, but “for the coming weeks.”
Griekspoor out of Indian Wells
This diagnosis is a devastating blow for the Dutchman, as it officially forces his withdrawal from the upcoming BNP Paribas Open Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, abruptly stalling the momentum of his career-best run in the UAE.
For Medvedev, the victory carries immense statistical weight, even if the final match remained unplayed. By claiming his second Dubai crown, he has finally broken the “curse” of never winning the same tournament twice.
“I saw yesterday struggling with with his his leg during the match”, the Russian said during the trophy ceremony. “So I never knew what’s going to happen today. I had to to prepare for my side. It feels strange to not have the final, but it is what it is. I hope Tallon can recover quickly. And we can see him back on court playing like he did this week.”
“I couldn’t miss a ball” (Medvedev)
“I had never done it twice in any city in the world”, Medvedev aded. “And the first time I would do it would be on a walkover. So that’s how life is sometimes. And funnily enough, that is probably the only trophy because it’s so big and beautiful that unfortunately broke down. So I don’t have it at home. So I guess that’s also a good sign to have it back in my home.”
Medvedev also said that his shape didn’t surprise him. “I was practicing before the tournament, I couldn’t couldn’t miss a ball. So we knew that’s going to be a great week.” During his title-winning week in Dubai, Daniil Medvedev secured consecutive straight-set victories over Juncheng Shang (6-1, 6-3), Stan Wawrinka (6-2, 6-3), Jenson Brooksby (6-2, 6-1), and top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime (6-4, 6-2)
Furthermore, he joins Carlos Alcaraz as the only two players to have secured multiple titles since the start of the 2026 season. Despite the milestone, Medvedev remained a class act, posting on X: “Not how I want to win a final. Hoping the injury for @Griekii is not too bad and wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Medvedev No.3 at the Race
Medvedev’s 14-3 record this season reinforces his resurgence. While he remains 11th in the ATP rankings, he has surged to 3rd in the Live Race to Turin, trailing only Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The quiet end to the tournament was mirrored by logistical silence across the city, as Dubai International Airport remained closed due to the military operations between Iran and the USA and Israel.
