ATP/WTA: Tsitsipas steps it up in Dubai

The Greek former world No.3 has several big titles on his resume – including three ATP 1000 crowns in Monte Carlo and a triumph at the prestigious ATP Finals – but up until this last weekend in the Emirates, Tsitsipas had never tasted victory at the ATP 500 level.

Searching for a first hard-court title since Los Cabos 2023, and a first trophy since Monte Carlo last spring, Tsitsipas defeated an in-form Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in an 88-minute clash in Dubai.

The win earned Tsitsipas a 12th career title and a return to the top 10, rising from No.11 to No.9.

Tsitsipas started his 2025 campaign with a 3-4 win-loss record through his first four events. But playing with a different racquet and a renewed sense of purpose, the 26-year-old navigated a tough draw to beat Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini, Tallon Griekspoor and finally Auger-Aliassime to clinch his first Dubai title from three final appearances at the tournament.

“It feels good to walk away with the title here,” said Tsitsipas.

“I've had two finals that weren't easy to deal with. Especially when you come so close to a title, there are a lot of things that go through your mind. I dealt with those emotions. I dealt with those feelings very much early and well today.”

Tsitsipas has been one of the players who have been finding difficult adjusting to the heavier and slower balls used at many tournaments on tour for the past couple of seasons and the Greek took the bold decision to test out a different racquet – he competed with a blacked-out frame in Dubai – in order to adapt to such conditions.

He says making that move was a “no-brainer” and that he would be “foolish” if he didn’t try something different.

“These changes sometimes are necessary because you don't want to be stuck in the same pattern over and over again,” he added.

“I feel like it's something refreshing and a good addition so far. It definitely brings that refreshing feeling and adds a bit of life and enthusiasm to my everyday going to work in a way.”

Tsitsipas felt like he was hitting bigger in Dubai, causing more damage with his shot-making, particularly on his backhand side. That development didn’t go unnoticed by his opponent Auger-Aliassime.

“He's been returning better. I've never seen him return like this from the backhand that deep, that fast,” said the Canadian, who now trails Tsitsipas 3-7 head-to-head.

Felix 'frustrated' but 'positive'

On his part, Auger-Aliassime has plenty of positives to take from his week in Dubai. The 24-year-old is back in the top 20 and owns a tour-leading 16 match-wins so far in 2025, with two titles under his belt, captured in Adelaide and Montpellier.

All four matches he played en route to the Dubai final were three-setters, and he battled valiantly through each and every one of them.

“There's two players in the finals. 32 at the start of the week. If Tsitsipas is the happiest guy tonight, maybe I'm the second happiest of the week. I take positive things,” said Auger-Aliassime.

“Honestly, right now I was just frustrated that I still wasn't on the court fighting for a third set. I'm a bit sad that I couldn't find a way.

“But I'm happy to get a few days of rest and just reset a little bit. I feel like I've been digging very deep and pushing my body a lot these last few weeks.

“I feel like I need a bit of reset to rest, train again, work on my things and be outside of the match court for a few days. I'm positive after that I'll have the right energy to step back into the competition.”

Machac, Navarro excel in Mexico

Tomas Machac secured the first ATP title of his career by overcoming Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(6), 6-2 in the final of the 500-level tournament in Acapulco.

The 24-year-old Czech produced an incredible serving performance, winning 37 out of 39 of his first-serve points throughout the match. His reward is a maiden ATP trophy and a top-20 debut.

“It means a lot. It is something I never dreamed could happen. Especially at an ATP 500, so it feels amazing for me. I was working very hard in the past year, so I am happy I can achieve something that shows me I am going the right way,” Machac told atptour.com.

Over in Merida, American top seed Emma Navarro blitzed past Colombian qualifier Emiliana Arango 6-0, 6-0 to clinch the second title of her career and first the WTA 500 level.

Arango entered her first tour-level final carrying an 11-match winning streak – across all levels – but ran out of steam against a clinical Navarro. As a result of her run in Merida, the Colombian has rocketed up the rankings from 133 to a career-high No.80 this week.

Pegula reigns supreme in Austin, Djere rules in Santiago

Another American top seed had a big week as Jessica Pegula downed her compatriot McCartney Kessler 7-5, 6-2 in the Austin final.

It was Pegula’s seventh title triumph of her career and it saw her snap a three-match losing streak in finals.

Earlier in the week, Pegula gave a shout-out to Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, who is a big tennis fan and attended the action in Austin. She jokingly called out the actor for only tweeting at Tommy Paul on X, and not her. He of course rectified the situation by wishing her well ahead of the finals.

Meanwhile in Santiago, Serbia’s Laslo Djere ended the title defence and the eight-match winning streak of recent Rio champion Sebastian Baez with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory in the final.

It was the 150th tour-level win of Djere’s career and it sees him rocket up the rankings from 103 to 74 in the world.

It’s the 27-year-old’s third tour-level title and first since 2020.