Stefanos Tsitsipas entered this week's ATP 500 Dubai event with a mediocre 3-4 score in the opening four tournaments of 2025. The Greek found his A-game and bested five rivals to lift his first ATP trophy in ten months.
Tsitsipas also broke the spell, conquering his first ATP 500 title after losing the first 11 finals! Novak Djokovic congratulated Stefanos on the title and joked with his rival. The Serb stated that no one beats Stefanos Tsitsipas 12 times in a row on ATP 500 level.
They met in the 2020 Dubai final, and Novak scored a win in straight sets for his fifth and most recent Dubai trophy.
Stefanos could not catch a break at this level for years, and it changed this week in his third Dubai Open final. The 4th seed ousted Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini and Tallon Griekspoor en route to his 12th ATP 500 title.
World no. 11 faced Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final and earned a 6-3, 6-3 victory in an hour and 28 minutes for his 12th ATP title. Stefanos ousted Felix for the seventh time in ten duels, losing to the Canadian once in the previous eight duels.
Tsitsipas grabbed 12 points more than outplayed his rival behind the first serve. The Greek denied all seven break points and bested the Canadian in the pivotal moments. Auger-Aliassime played in his third final of the season but could not celebrate.
He lost serve three times and settled for the runner-up spot. Stefanos built a 23-15 advantage in service winners and had the upper hand from the baseline and at the net. Stefanos faced two break points in the fourth game of the duel and saved them with winners.
Auger-Aliassime missed a couple of shots in the seventh game and offered his opponent three break chances. He missed a forehand on the first, losing serve and falling 4-3 behind. He had a chance to pull the break back in the next one.
Stefanos saved them and held for 5-3 before stepping in on the return in game nine. He created a set point and welcomed Felix's wayward forehand, securing his second break and wrapping up the first part of the duel 6-3.
Tsitsipas faced another pair of break chances at 1-1 in the second set. He denied them and held to avoid an early setback and keep his initial shot intact. Felix had to dig deep in the fourth game, saving two break points and leveling the score at 2-2.
World no. 11struggled to bring the seventh game home. He squandered four game points and played against the seventh and last break point. Stefanos saved it and closed the game with a forehand crosscourt winner that sent him 4-3 in front.
The Canadian got broken in the eighth game after a forehand error, falling a set and a break behind and finding himself in a challenging position. Tsitsipas served for the title at 5-3 and generated three match points after the rival's backhand error.
The Greek landed an ace on the first, securing his first ATP 500 title and returning into the top-10.
