Felix Auger-Aliassime speaks after needing six match points to win his first round in Dubai

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Felix Auger-Aliassime required six match points to win his opening match in Dubai against Zhang Zhizhen.

Dubai Tennis Championships top seed Auger-Aliassime defeated Zhang 6-3, 7-6(7-4) in the round of 32, setting up a clash with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

The Canadian, currently ranked eighth on the ATP Tour, reached the final in Dubai last year but lost out to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Another lengthy run is on the cards, but only after Auger-Aliassime was able to overcome a “frustrating” meeting with Zhang.

Felix Auger-Aliassime overcomes match point frustration in Dubai win

Speaking after converting his sixth match point, Auger-Aliassime said: “I stopped counting at some point, it was getting too frustrating.

“Having match points is the position you want to be in as a player, but it’s weird how the mind plays a trick on you.

“How much further I am from losing than he is, he should be the one that’s tight. But I told myself ‘If there is a third set, I’ll be there’.”

He eventually triumphed after one hour and 50 minutes, falling well short of the epic involving his upcoming opponent.

Mpetshi Perricard and Moez Echargui battled for two hours and 35 minutes in Dubai, with the qualifier eventually beating the wildcard 6-7(3-7), 7-6(7-3), 6-7(4-7).

The Frenchman should be more fatigued than Auger-Aliassime heading into their match, while the latter also has history on his side.

They have met three times throughout their ATP careers so far, with the Canadian winning their last two matches after Mpetshi Perricard won the first.

Felix Auger-Aliassime has very tough route to Dubai title

Auger-Aliassime has been one of the standout players on the ATP Tour in 2026 so far, despite his season starting with disaster.

He retired in his very first match at the Australian Open, but recovered to clinch a ninth career title in Montpellier.

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Another final appearance followed at the Rotterdam Open, where he was beaten by Australian ace Alex de Minaur.

Auger-Aliassime has now won nine of his last 10 matches, and will be looking to continue his fine momentum against Mpetshi Perricard.

But that definitely won’t be an easy task, and neither will a possible quarterfinal against Arthur Fils, who just reached the Qatar Open final.

The Canadian could then meet Daniil Medvedev or Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals, with Alexander Bublik, Jakub Mensik and Jack Draper among his potential final opponents.