Stefanos Tsitsipas is back in the Dubai Open final after five years. Stefanos will seek his first title in the desert against Felix Auger-Aliassime, hoping to lift his first ATP 500 trophy after dropping the first 11 finals!
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The young Greek fought for the Dubai crown in 2019 and 2020 against the ultimate legends. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic claimed 13 of 18 titles in Dubai between 2003 and 2020, and Tsitsipas stood no chance in those two finals.
Federer claimed his eighth and last Dubai title in 2019 after overcoming the young Greek 6-4, 6-4 in 70 minutes. Thus, the Swiss clinched his 100th ATP title, becoming the second player in the Open era to achieve that.
Stefanos ousted Roger at the Australian Open a few weeks earlier but could not repeat that in Dubai. The veteran claimed 15 points more and saved both break points, sending the pressure to the other side. Tsitsipas fought well but fell in the pivotal moments.
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The youngster played against two break points and failed to save any, suffering one break in each set and finishing runner-up. Federer fired 25 winners and 15 unforced errors and took charge in the quickest exchanges. The seven-time champion made a perfect start.
Roger collected a break in the first game of the match and served for the opener at 5-4. Tsitsipas made a push and created his two break chances. Federer saved them and brought the game home for 6-4. There were no chances for the returners in the opening eight game of the second set.
Stefanos fought well and followed the legend's pace. However, the Greek squandered a 30-0 lead in game nine and sprayed errors to experience a break and fall behind. Roger served for the title at 5-4 and sealed the deal with three powerful serves en route to his 100th ATP title.
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A year later, Tsitsipas returned to Dubai and reached another title clash. This time, he faced the four-time champion Novak Djokovic! Seeking his first Dubai crown since 2013, the Serb notched a 6-3, 6-4 win in an hour and 17 minutes, keeping the youngster empty-handed.
Novak secured his 21st consecutive victory and lifted his 79th ATP trophy. Djokovic got broken once and provided three return games from as many opportunities to control the scoreboard and move over the top.
They served well in the opening four games for 2-2. Novak sprayed forehand errors in game five and faced a break point. He saved it with a fine attack and brought the game home for 3-2. Djokovic closed the seventh game with a service winner.
He made a push on the return in the next one and generated his first break point when Tsitsipas sprayed a backhand error. Novak passed the young gu with a backhand crosscourt winner and provided a break that sent him 5-3 in front.
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Djokovic served for the opener in game nine and fired a backhand winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel 6-3 in 39 minutes. They provided four holds at the beginning of the second set. The Serb stepped in on the return at 2-2.
He hit a smash winner for a break at 15 and the advantage. Stefanos kept fighting and pulled the break back in game six, locking the result at 3-3. Djokovic embraced a hold at love in game eight for 4-4 and stepped in on the return in the next one.
Novak stole the rival's serve at 15, opening a 5-4 gap and serving for the title in game ten. Djokovic drew Tsitsipas' mistake and generated three match points. He painted abackhand down the line winner on the first to seal the deal and lift a trophy.
