Felix Auger-Aliassime achieves career first after reaching the Dubai Tennis Championships final

Follow us on Google Discover

Felix Auger-Aliassime has enjoyed a fantastic start to his 2025 campaign, carrying his form into the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Few players on the ATP Tour are performing better than the Canadian star right now, as he continues to impress.

Auger-Aliassime has won more matches than any other player in men’s tennis this year, adding several more victories to his tally this week in Dubai.

World number 21 Auger-Aliassime beat Alexander Bublik in a controversial three-set clash in the first round, as he secured his spot in the last 16.

A win over Nuno Borges followed as Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarter-finals of an ATP event for the fourth time this year.

Auger-Aliassime then took down Marin Cilic to reach the semis, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, winning just his second match against the Croat.

Battling back from a set down in the last four, Auger-Aliassime scored his 16th win of the year, achieving a career-first at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Felix Auger-Aliassime won every match in a deciding set on his way to the Dubai Tennis Championships final

Having dropped the first set, 5-7, Auger-Aliassime fought back to win in three, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, against Quentin Halys to advance to his 18th ATP final.

Unlike his previous 17 trips to the final, the Canadian has had to win a deciding set in each of his four matches in Dubai this week.

• SF – Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Quentin Halys, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
• QF – Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Marin Cilic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
• 2R – Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Nuno Borges, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
• 1R – Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Alexander Bublik, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3

During his on-court interview, Auger-Aliassime admitted he didn’t quite know how he managed to pull off another three-set victory.

“I mean yeah, I don’t know how I pulled it through today, I’ve only played three-setters, back-to-back-to-back-to-back this week,” he said.

“I was feeling, we were both feeling a bit tired.

“I think everybody can relate when we’re having a tough day, just to have a pep talk with yourself, and just try to stay positive, I did that well, I dug deep physically, so really happy it paid off today.”

The 24-year-old then explained what he finds interesting about playing on the ATP Tour, having won his 16th match of the year.

“It’s never easy, like you said, Quentin [Halys] had a long week, coming through qualies, we had a lot of matches on the tour, we were in Doha last week, coming here you feel a bit tired but this is a challenge for everybody,” said Auger-Aliassime.

“That’s what’s interesting, we’re dealing with all the same conditions, it’s who’s going to find a way to be sharp when they need to win the important points and come out with the victory.

“Never easy, but like you said I mean I feel more and more confident that I have the solutions to come through matches like this.”

Felix Auger-Aliassime strengthens claim for ATP Finals spot

After winning his quarter-final match against Cilic, Auger-Aliassime laid out his goals for the 2025 season on the ATP Tour.

“Gradually I hope that this year, by the end of this year, I’m closing in on the top ten, hopefully even Turin,” he said.

“That would be a great year.”

With his latest win in Dubai, Auger-Aliassime solidified his place in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’, as he begins to close the gap on those ahead of him.

A title in the UAE would see Auger-Aliassime trail number two Alexander Zverev by just 250 points, a gap he would be eager to close down over the coming months.

He won’t want to get too ahead of himself, however, as he first focuses on the Dubai Tennis Championships final, where he’ll take on Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday, March 1.