Masterful Medvedev Flies by Felix Into Second Dubai Final
By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, February 27, 2026
Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship
Daniil Medvedev sent another precise pass blurring by Felix Auger-Aliassime leaving the lanky Canadian looking like a commuter watching the last bus buzz by him.
Former world No. 1 Medvedev loves a target and today he hit the mark to land his second Dubai final.
A masterful Medvedev dissected 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.
The third-seeded Medvedev will take on either good friend and 2022 champion Andrey Rublev or world No. 25 Tallon Griekspoor in tomorrow’s final.
Today, Medvedev delivered one of his most dynamic performances of the year. Medvedev served 66 percent, won 23 of 26 first-serve points, registered five love holds and did not face a break point in a one hour, 22-minute victory.
It was Medvedev’s eighth win in 10 meetings vs. Auger-Aliassime as he denied the 2025 US Open semifinalist his aim of reaching back-to-back Dubai finals.
Flashing his fourth ace down the T, Medvedev stamped a love hold for 5-4. It was Medvedev’s second love hold of the match.
Centering a return deep down the middle in the next game, Medvedev handcuffed the Canadian to reach 30-all. Though Auger-Aliassime dug out out a low forehand volley, he had no answer as Medvedev lofted a loopy running lob the 6’4” Canadian could not control for set point.
The pair went toe-to-toe on the baseline in a crackling 25-shot rally. Medvedev, who was grunting more than he had the entire set, drew one final forehand wide breaking to take a one-set lead after 44 spirited minutes of play.
Serving with command, Medvedev opened the second set with his third love hold—by then he’d won 16 of his last 17 service points.
Early in the second set, Auger-Aliassime, who wore white adhesive taping below his left knee, was sometimes bending over at the waist looking drained and gulping in air.
In the fourth game, Auger-Aliassime ended a punishing 27-shot rally with a forehand volley but netted a stretch volley to face deuce.
The combination of Auger-Aliassime’s heavy February schedule—he won Montpellier and reached the Rotterdam final in an 11-1 start to this month—and the low line shots emanating from Medvedev’s Tecnifibre racquet took a physical toll on the Canadian, whose backhand was flying at times.
The top seed netted a backhand to face break point then flew a forehand trying to hit behind the Russian as Medvedev broke for 3-1 after 66 minutes.
Wasting no time between points, Medvedev whipped a wicked T serve sealing a love hold for 4-1.
Exacting passing shots were an essential element of this win. Medvedev lined a running forehand pass for double match point. On his second match point, Medvedev banged a backhand return winner down the line, his 11th winner of the semifinal sealed it.
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