Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, 6-4, 6-4, in the second round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
In doing so, Auger-Aliassime qualified for another quarterfinal.
The Canadian has been one of the most consistent players on the ATP Tour as of late, and continues to make deep runs wherever he goes.
Where do you think Felix Auger-Aliassime will finish the year ranked next year?
Making the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, Auger-Aliassime extended his lead over the world’s top two players in one statistic.
Felix Auger-Aliassime has reached more quarterfinals than Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Nobody born in the 2000s has made more ATP quarterfinals than Auger-Aliassime.
The 25-year-old has reached the last eight 66 times.
He now leads his closest challenger, Jannik Sinner, by four.
The Italian recorded his 62nd quarterfinal appearance at the Qatar Open last time out.
Most ATP QFs reached by players born in the 2000s
| Rank | Name | QFs | Country | Year born |
| 1 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 66 | Canada | 2000 |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | 62 | Italy | 2001 |
| 3 | Carlos Alcaraz | 55 | Spain | 2003 |
| 4 | Lorenzo Musetti | 43 | Italy | 2002 |
| 5 | Holger Rune | 38 | Denmark | 2003 |
Carlos Alcaraz sits third with 55 quarterfinals, ahead of Lorenzo Musetti (43) and Holger Rune (38).
If you’d been asked the question a year ago, many would have backed Alcaraz and Sinner to jump Auger-Aliassime in the rankings before long.
But now, given his recent form, you wouldn’t bet against Auger-Aliassime holding off his rivals for the foreseeable future.
Felix Auger-Aliassime reacts after reaching Dubai quarterfinals
Auger-Aliassime made a slow start against Mpetshi Perricard, falling behind 0-3 in the first set.
During his post-match interview, he explained how the difference in conditions between day and evening sessions contributed to those struggles.
“The balls feel a little bit different,” said Auger-Aliassime.
“I felt like they were reacting to the strings a little bit different, I couldn’t really find my serve in the first few games, so I had to get a bit more height, on the toss, find my rhythm.

“I have to give him credit, though, he chipped a few backhand returns, made it difficult for me in the first game, obviously not ideal to start 0-30, get tight a little bit, double fault, 0-40, it goes quick!
“Credit to him. But I’m glad I was able to fight my way back in that first set.”
Trailing Mpetshi Perricard 0-3, Auger-Aliassime was given time to rest as the Frenchman’s nose began to bleed.
The interviewer asked Auger-Aliassime if the break allowed him to reset after a tricky start.
“Correct, it was still early in the match. I felt like we didn’t play enough for me to know where to play, or what to do,” he said.
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“It was mainly with my serve; I just had to figure out my serve.
“To get broken in the first game, against a guy like this, is far from ideal.
“But I also got chances, first game I was 15-40 up, returning.
“So I thought, if I can get in that position again, maybe I’ll get a chance to break if I get lucky.”
Auger-Aliassime was then told he’s reached the quarterfinals in 10 of his last 11 tournaments.
The Canadian was asked about the standards he’s set on tour recently.
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s ATP record since the 2025 Canadian Open
| Tournament | Performance | Match wins | Top 10 wins |
| 2025 Canadian Open | Lost in 2R to Fabian Marozsan | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Cincinnati Open | Lost in QF to Jannik Sinner | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 US Open | Lost in SF to Jannik Sinner | 5 | 2 (3R vs Alexander Zverev, QF vs Alex de Minaur) |
| 2025 Shanghai Masters | Lost in QF to Arthur Rinderknech | 3 | 1 (4R vs Lorenzo Musetti) |
| 2025 Swiss Indoors | Lost in QF to Jaume Munar | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 Paris Masters | Lost in F to Jannik Sinner | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 ATP Finals | Lost in SF to Carlos Alcaraz | 2 | 2 (RR vs Ben Shelton, RR vs Alexander Zverev) |
| 2026 Australian Open | Lost in 1R to Nuno Borges | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 Open Occitanie | Champion | 4 | 0 |
| 2026 Rotterdam Open | Lost in F to Alex de Minaur | 4 | 1 (SF vs Alexander Bublik) |
| 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships* | QF vs Jiri Lehecka | 2 | 0 |
“It’s funny you use that word,” said Auger-Aliassime.
“I’ve used that word with my coach earlier this season.
“I was like, we have to elevate our standards in everything we do.
“That’s always what I reach for, and I’m the first one responsible, I’m the one stepping on the court putting out the standards that I want to live up to in my career, and the team follows, so I have to be the leader of my team, the leader of my career and I try to bring that every day.”
Auger-Aliassime will hope to replicate those standards when he returns for his quarterfinal match in Dubai.
He’ll play Lehecka for a place in the semis on Thursday, February 26.
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