Felix Auger-Aliassime is in the midst of a deep Dubai run and that's only the beginning since the world No. 21 aims to return inside the top-10 and also clinch an ATP Finals spot.
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After winning Adelaide and Montpellier in the first month of 2025, the Canadian has now been through to the semifinal of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai after beating Marin Cilic 6-4 3-6 6-2.
When this year started, the 24-year-old had been ranked at No. 29 and without a title since 2023 October.
But now, Auger-Aliassime is playing some of his best tennis and hopes he can do something similar to what he did in late 2022 - when he won three consecutive titles before also making the Paris Masters semifinal.
Following that run, he achieved a career-high ranking of No. 6 and also clinched his maiden ATP Finals appearance.
Currently, the seven-time ATP winner is third on the Race to Turin list.
"Gradually I hope that this year, by the end of this year, I'm closing in on the top 10, hopefully even Turin. That would be a great year," Auger-Aliassime told Reem Abulleil after setting up a Dubai semifinal against Quentin Halys.
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Auger-Aliassime: When you are consistent and winning, it's a different mood in Grand Slams
In the 24-year-old's mind, it is simple - doing consistently well in Tour-level events could potentially very nicely set him up for a big Grand Slam run.
"When you start being consistent in other tournaments, and dominating players in other tournaments, you come to the Grand Slams with a different belief," the Canadian explained.
"I come to every Grand Slam feeling like, 'Okay I wanna win,' and believing I can win but it's different when you have been winning a lot on the ATP Tour.
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"So that's the kind of momentum and the kind of belief I want to build. And if I do that, then hopefully I'll get my opportunity to lift one of those big trophies."
When it comes to the Grand Slam level, Auger-Aliassime's best result remains the semifinal he reached at the 2021 US Open.
