Félix Auger-Aliassime impressively secured a spot in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships through a commanding serving performance on Thursday. The top-ranked player from Montreal delivered 16 aces and achieved an 83% first-serve points win rate in a 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory over eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka from Czechia at the ATP 500 event. Auger-Aliassime managed to break Lehecka’s serve twice and took control of the second-set tiebreak to clinch a straight-set win.
Maintaining a flawless record without dropping a set in Dubai, Auger-Aliassime extended his streak to three consecutive tour-level semifinals following his recent triumph in Montpellier and a runner-up finish in Rotterdam. The 25-year-old player’s February record stands at an impressive 11-1, with an overall season record of 12-3. Eager to redeem his loss in last year’s Dubai final to Stefanos Tsitsipas, Auger-Aliassime expressed his determination to reach the championship match again.
In the upcoming semifinal, Auger-Aliassime is set to face off against third seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who secured his spot by defeating Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-1, advancing to his third Dubai semifinal in four years. Despite having lost their initial encounters, Auger-Aliassime managed to win the last two matches against Medvedev at the 2024 Paris Olympics and in Doha last year.
Speaking about the upcoming clash with Medvedev, Auger-Aliassime highlighted the differing game styles between them, expressing his intention to play aggressively. The winner of their match will progress to the final scheduled for Sunday.
