Medvedev outclasses Auger-Aliassime to close in on historic Dubai double
Former champion Daniil Medvedev neutralized top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime with a clinical 6-4, 6-2 masterclass, setting up a final clash against either Andrey Rublev or Tallon Griekspoor and moving one win away from breaking his career-long “no repeat” title curse.
Daniil Medvedev, Dubai 2026 | © Imago / PsNewz
The narrative of Daniil Medvedev’s career has often been defined by his unique streak of never winning the same tournament twice, but that long-standing statistical quirk is now under serious threat in the United Arab Emirates.
The 2023 Dubai champion moved one step closer to breaking his title redundancy curse on Friday afternoon, delivering an impressively straightforward 6-4, 6-2 victory over the top seed, Felix Auger-Aliassime, to secure his place in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final.
Entering the match, the tactical intrigue centered on whether Auger-Aliassime’s formidable serve could penetrate the deep-court positioning of the world No. 11. However, Medvedev produced a defensive masterclass that effectively neutralized the Canadian’s primary weapon.
The statistics told a bleak story for the top seed, who managed to win only 36 of 64 points on his own serve. By contrast, Medvedev was clinical and untouchable behind his delivery, winning a staggering 36 of 43 service points (including second serves).
Medvedev back at his Australian form
This efficiency allowed the Russian to dictate the tempo, appearing in his best form since a disappointing Round of 16 exit in Melbourne earlier this year.
The match concluded with a moment of pure technical brilliance that perfectly encapsulated Medvedev’s dominance. On match point, the Russian unleashed a tremendous winning backhand return that left Auger-Aliassime stranded. The shot so clean that it drew a shared moment of respect between the two competitors.
Having already dispatched Jenson Brooksby, Stan Wawrinka, and Juncheng Shang without dropping a set this week, Medvedev now awaits the winner of the semi-final between Andrey Rublev and Tallon Griekspoor.
