Griekspoor Edges Rublev, Will Meet Medvedev in Dubai Final
By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 27, 2026
Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship
In tennis’ version of sudden death, Tallon Griekspoor found new life.
Griekspoor saved two set points in the tiebreaker out-dueling Andrey Rublev 7-5, 7-6(6) to battle into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships final.
In a match of dominant serving from both semifinalists, each man torched 20 aces and hit 37 winners.
Playing his most proactive tennis under pressure, Griekspoor saved all six break points he faced, rallying from 4-6 down in the tiebreaker to beat the fifth-seeded Rublev for the first time in four meetings.
All this, despite the fact Griekspoor left the court at 6-5 in the opening set to treat an apparent upper left leg issue.
World No. 25 Griekspoor, who defeated second-seeded Alexander Bublik in the second round and No. 13 Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals, has scored three consecutive Top 20 wins for the first time advancing to his sixth ATP Final.
Playing for his first title since he won Mallorca last June, Griekspoor will face former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev in tomorrow’s final.
A masterful Medvedev dissected Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2 to advance to his 42nd Tour-level final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
It was Medvedev’s first Top 10 win since he defeated No. 7 Alex de Minaur at the ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai in October.
The 2023 Dubai champion Medvedev will play for his second title of the year tomorrow—and continue his quest to become a title two-timer. All 22 of Medvedev’s titles have come at 22 different events, if he wins Dubai it will be the first time he’s won the same title twice.
A year ago, Griekspoor fought off four match points edging Medvedev, 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 in the Dubai quarterfinals in their lone career clash. It is Griekspoor’s second ATP 500 final following the 2023 Washington, DC final.
Today, the 29-year-old Dutchman played big and bold when it mattered most.
Stress spiked in the 11th game as Rublev earned three break points.
On the first, Griekspoor hit an aggressive forehand approach to reach deuce. On the second break point, Griekspoor hit a second serve down the T. Facing a third break point, Griekspoor again beat the Russian with a T serve to draw even at deuce.
Griekspoor slammed successive aces—his 10th and 11th of the semifinal—earning a hard-fought hold for 6-5.
That game took a toll. Griekspoor called for the physio and left the court for treatment of an apparent left leg injury.
Returning to court intent on shortening points, the Dutchman drilled a diagonal forehand winner for a set point at 30-40. Leaning into a backhand return, Griekspoor blasted his two-hander crosscourt, scoring the lone break to take the 57-minute opening set.
Griekspoor pounded down his 13th ace holding for a 2-1 second-set lead.
Across the net, Rublev was in cruise control on serve. When Rublev thumped an ace down the T to hold at love for 5-all he had won 20 of his 21 serve points in the set.
Rublev rapped a forehand crosscourt to force the second-set tiebreaker.
The Russian’s return clipped the top of the tape, Griekspoor had a good look at a forehand but sent it long, ceding the mini break on the opening point.
The 2022 Dubai champion Rublev ripped four consecutive aces stretching his lead to 5-2. When Griekspoor netted a forehand off a second set, Rublev had two set points to force a decider.
Going all in on his return, Griekspoor slammed a forehand return winner crosscourt to save the first set point drawing a grin from Rublev who could barely move by the time the ball landed. On the second set point, Rublev missed a return.
Griekspoor whipped a wide serve to earn match point at 7-6 and Rublev netted a forehand return as the Dutchman closed in one hour, 45 minutes.
How will Griekspoor’s leg issue respond for the final? And can Medvedev, who has won his 22 titles at 22 different tournaments finally win the same title twice?
We will find out tomorrow.
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