Daniil Medvedev stands just a victory away from achieving a significant feat in tennis—winning the same tournament for the first time. On Friday, the former world number one clinched his way to the Dubai final with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win over top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The ex-US Open champion boasts an impressive 22 career titles but has never managed to repeat his success in any tournament. Now he has a unique opportunity on Saturday when he faces Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor in the final round, where Medvedev won the trophy last year.
“I can do something like this if I have fast courts,” Medvedev reflected, “but there aren’t many of those left on tour anymore.” He added, “If I perform even better tomorrow, I could win.”
Tallon Griekspoor’s victory over Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev has captured the spotlight. After saving three break points to hold at 6-5 in the first set and securing an off-court medical timeout for a purported groin/hamstring injury, Griekspoor returned to serve with renewed vigor.
In the decisive moments of their match, Griekspoor’s agility and shot accuracy were on full display. His powerful serving performance continued into the second set, where they played to a tiebreak. Despite Rublev holding several advantages during the breaker, Griekspoor ultimately emerged victorious in two sets.
Griekspoor shared his sentiments regarding the match: “I could barely walk after the first set; it was both luck and misfortune that allowed me to return.” He continued by saying, “In the tiebreak, I had good fortune for a second straight win.”
While Griekspoor’s strong performance earned him his third consecutive top-20 finish of the week, there remains uncertainty regarding whether he will be fit enough to compete against Medvedev on Saturday. He admitted, “I landed with a serve and felt something in my hamstring; I’ll do what I can for tomorrow.”
Fellow player Andrey Rublev was left disappointed by his defeat. “Tallon was obviously not feeling well but he did as best as possible,” he noted. “He started going for shots, all of them through.” Medvedev, on the other hand, had an outstanding performance against Auger-Aliassime earlier in their semi-final match, securing a 6-4 victory over the Canadian.
In a high-quality encounter lasting one hour and twenty-three minutes, Medvedev held his nerve for a 4-1 set lead. He then broke Rublev’s serve with a precise lob to secure an important set point. His flawless performance against Auger-Aliassime improved his overall record against him to 8-2.
As the tournament heads into its final days, both players are focused on delivering their best performances in what could be pivotal matches for their respective careers.