Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete in his thirdDubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final. The 4th seed defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final in an hour and 23 minutes for hsi first title clash since Barcelona last year.
The Greek will compete in his 30th ATP final and the 12th at the ATP 500 level, dropping the previous 11! Stefanos entered Dubai with three wins in 2025. He has played well this week, and the semi-final was no exception.
Tsitsipas claimed 11 points more than his rival and defended his service games superbly. The better-ranked player dropped ten points in ten service games, keeping his rival away from break points.
Griekspoor fought well but could not follow that pace. He faced four break points and lost serve once in each set to end his campaign in the last four. Stefanos hit the ball flawlessly and landed 29 winners and 11 unforced errors.
Tallon stood on a 20-18 ratio and collected a couple of service winners more than his opponent. However, Tsitsipas took charge from the baseline and built a massive 38-20 advantage that sent him over the top.
They needed 20 minutes to wrap up the opening six games of the duel. The Dutchman faced issues at 3-3 and faced two break points. He denied two break points and held with a forehand crosscourt winner to remain on the positive side.
The two-time finalist produced a fine hold in the eighth game and made another push on the return in the next one. The 4th seed extended the game with a forehand winner and welcomed the rival's smash error on a breakj point to open a 5-4 gap.
Stefanos served for the set in game ten and closed it with an ace after 42 minutes. The Greek landed a forehand winner in the second game of the second set and made a push on the return in the next one. Griekspoor squandered a game point and faced a break point.
He missed a volley and found himself a set and a break behind. Tsitsipas cemented the lead with a half-volley winner in game four, opening a 3-1 gap. He landed a crafty drop shot winner in game six for 4-2 and came from 30-15 behind two games later.
The 4th seed closed the game with an ace and moved 5-3 up. Stefanos served for the win at 5-4 and held at love, entering his first ATP final in ten months.
