Dubai, UAE – Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev advanced to the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Thursday, defeating American Jenson Brooksby in dominant fashion, 6-2, 6-1, in a match lasting just 57 minutes. He will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the next round.
Auger-Aliassime also secured his semi-final berth on Thursday, overcoming Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) after a contest lasting one hour and 55 minutes. The Canadian, seeded first in the tournament and last year’s runner-up to Stefanos Tsitsipas, demonstrated his strength to reach this stage.
The upcoming match between Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime marks their tenth career encounter. Medvedev currently holds a 7-2 advantage in their head-to-head record, yet, Auger-Aliassime has not lost to the Russian since the Australian Open in 2024. This recent shift in momentum adds an extra layer of anticipation to their Dubai semi-final.
Medvedev’s path to the semi-finals has been particularly swift, building on his earlier season title win in Brisbane. A victory in Dubai would further solidify his position as a leading contender on the ATP Tour. Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, will be looking to avenge his loss in last year’s Dubai final and continue his pursuit of a major title.
The semi-final lineup was completed with the qualification of Borna Coric and Alexander Rublev, setting the stage for compelling matches as the tournament progresses. Auger-Aliassime’s win over Lehecka came after a closely contested second set tiebreak, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
