Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts after achieving career first with Dubai Tennis Championships win over Felix Auger-Aliassime

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Stefanos Tsitsipas found form at the perfect time at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The Greek number one hadn’t had things all his own way in 2025, suffering several shock results during the early months of the ATP Tour season.

Tsitsipas lost to Alex Michelsen in Australia before falling to defeat against Mattia Bellucci and Hamad Medjedovic in Rotterdam and Qatar.

Heading to the UAE for the Dubai Tennis Championships, the 26-year-old needed a strong performance to breathe life into his 2025 campaign.

Tsitsipas changed his racket ahead of the tournament, a decision that proved highly effective as he enjoyed an impressive run to the final.

Wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini, and Tallon Griekspoor saw Tsitsipas book his place in a 12th ATP 500 final.

Having lost his previous 11 finals at the level, Tsitsipas took on an in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime searching for a maiden victory.

Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts after winning his first ATP 500 title at the Dubai Tennis Championships

Tsitsipas produced another brilliant display as he took down his Canadian rival in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to win his first-ever ATP 500 title.

The Greek had remarkably lost his previous 11 finals, including three at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

• Won 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships v Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Lost 2024 Barcelona Open v Casper Ruud
• Lost 2023 Barcelona Open v Carlos Alcaraz
• Lost 2022 Astana Open v Novak Djokovic
• Lost 2022 Rotterdam Open v Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Lost 2021 Barcelona Open v Rafael Nadal
• Lost 2021 Mexican Open v Alexander Zverev
• Lost 2020 Hamburg Open v Andrey Rublev
• Lost 2020 Dubai Tennis Championships v Daniil Medvedev
• Lost 2019 China Open v Dominic Thiem
• Lost 2019 Dubai Tennis Championships v Roger Federer
• Lost 2018 Barcelona Open v Rafael Nadal

After the match, Tsitsipas was relieved to finally get his hands on the title in Dubai, having lost two previous finals in the UAE.

“There is nothing I can say that ensured the win today, it was just pure fighting and trying my best to avoid that third final loss, it was nerve-racking,” he said during his on-court interview.

“I had a great opponent on the other side of the net, I knew that it was a difficult task to face.

“I’m just proud in ways that I managed the pressure in those crucial moments.

“It’s a big relief that I’m able to hold that trophy finally after the third attempt, it is something that I had in the back of my mind and I’m happy that it’s the first time that I’ve accomplished it.”

Tsitsipas was particularly impressed with his level in Dubai, as he enjoyed the best week of his 2025 season.

“This is something that I was fighting for, for a long time, it’s great that it happened here in Dubai,” he said.

“My game kind of clicked and things seemed to work pretty well from the beginning.

“I’m very happy with the way things progressed over the week and how I was able to close out some matches that didn’t seem like they belonged to me, especially in the last couple of days I had some crazy fights out here.”

The result will see the Greek return to the top ten when the next set of rankings are released on Monday, something Tsitsipas admitted he had been working hard to achieve.

“Of course, these are the things that we’re fighting for as tennis players, and owning a spot in the top ten is definitely one of the greatest feelings a tennis player can experience,” he said.

“It comes with hard work, it comes with sacrifices, it comes with all these difficult moments that you have to endure as a tennis player.

“I’m happy I’m in a winning position and in a position where I can really celebrate now.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas returns to the ATP top ten with win over Felix Auger-Aliassime in Dubai

Once ranked third in the world, Tsitsipas tumbled out of the top ten in 2024 and was ranked 11th before his big week in Dubai.

He will now head to Indian Wells as the world number nine, as several stars ranked above him may now be wary of the 26-year-old breathing down their necks.

Trailing world number eight Andrey Rublev by just 75 points, Tsitsipas could jump the Russian with a strong performance in California.

He has however struggled at the ‘Sunshine Double’ Masters 1000 tournaments during his career, last reaching the quarter-finals in 2021.

Tsitsipas will hope he can turn his fortunes around at the event when Indian Wells begins on March 3.