Tennis Showdowns Heat Up in Dubai and Doha Championships

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Three seeds remain in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as the tournament moves into the second round on Wednesday. Notably, Marseille winner Ugo Humbert, ranked 15th, will square off against Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor, ranked 47th.

This marks the second career meeting between Humbert and Griekspoor, who previously faced each other at the 2021 indoor hard courts in Montpellier, where Humbert emerged victorious in a close three-set match. Humbert defeated Jiri Lehecka in his 2025 Dubai opener, winning decisively 6-3, 6-0.

Griekspoor advanced to the second round after a nail-biting match against Roman Safiullin, during which he saved three match points, eventually winning 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-6(1). Griekspoor’s last six matches included a remarkable 11 tiebreakers, showcasing his resilience on the court.

Humbert, currently boasting a 10-2 season record and riding a six-match winning streak, stated, ‘I feel confident after my last match and I’m ready for another challenge.’ The fatigue factor from Griekspoor’s long match may play a role in the outcome of this highly anticipated matchup.

Meanwhile, Felix Auger-Aliassime, currently ranked 21st, is also in contention for a quarterfinal spot, having already claimed two titles this season. He will meet Nuno Borges of Portugal, who is ranked 38th.

Auger-Aliassime struggled in his opening match, needing 2 hours and 49 minutes to defeat Alexander Bublik, 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-3. The Canadian had previously won titles in Adelaide and Montpellier, while Borges is enjoying a solid season with a semifinal showing in Auckland and an impressive win over Arthur Fils.

Commenting on Borges, Auger-Aliassime acknowledged, ‘I know this will be a tough match. I’m just trying to focus on my game and avoid any mistakes.’ The match-up is a first-ever contest for both players, with Auger-Aliassime expected to advance based on his current form.

In Doha, Andrey Rublev, the highest seed remaining at No. 5, faces Auger-Aliassime for a spot in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final on Friday. Rublev holds a 5-1 lead in their head-to-head series, having previously won twice against the Canadian in 2024.

Rublev has shown impressive form this week, taking down Nuno Borges and Alex de Minaur en route to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Jiri Lehecka, who defeated top seed Carlos Alcaraz, will meet Jack Draper, marking another exciting match in the Qatar event.

As matchups progress in both Dubai and Doha, fans can expect intense competition and a showcase of top-tier tennis as players vie for crucial ranking points and titles.