Dubai
Auger-Aliassime converts sixth MP in Dubai opener, Wawrinka wins
High seed downs Zhang, units R2 vs. Mpetshi Perricard at ATP 500 occasion
February 23, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Pictures
Felix Auger-Aliassime is the highest seed at an occasion above ATP 250 stage for the primary time this week in Dubai (file picture).
By ATP Workers
Felix Auger-Aliassime is again on the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships decided to go one step additional than final yr, and the highest seed made a assured begin to his 2026 marketing campaign on Monday, regardless of needing six match factors to cross the road.
The No. 8 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings moved previous Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 7-(4) to launch his title bid on the ATP 500 occasion. Twelve months in the past, Auger-Aliassime superior to the Dubai last earlier than falling to an impressed Stefanos Tsitsipas, and the Canadian is as soon as once more among the many favourites.
“I finished counting sooner or later, it was getting too irritating,” Auger-Aliassime stated of the missed match factors. “Having match factors is the place you need to be in as a participant, however it’s bizarre how the thoughts performs a trick on you. How a lot additional I’m from dropping than he’s, he must be the one which’s tight. However I instructed myself ‘If there’s a third set, I’ll be there’.”
Since retiring from his first-round conflict with Nuno Borges on the Australian Open in January, Auger-Aliassime has rediscovered a few of his finest type. He has received 9 of his previous 10 matches, lifting the trophy in Montpellier earlier than ending runner-up in Rotterdam.
Along with his velocity and artful courtroom protection, Auger-Aliassime saved all 4 break factors he confronted towards Zhang, based on Infosys ATP Stats. The 25-year-old then missed two match factors on return at 5-4 and three at 6-5 within the second set, however produced a medical response within the tie-break.
Competing as the highest seed at an occasion above ATP 250 stage for the primary time, Auger-Aliassime will subsequent face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who earlier snapped his five-match tour-level dropping streak. The massive-serving French qualifier defeated Tunisian wild card Moez Echargui 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 7-6(4) to earn his first win since reaching the quarter-finals in Auckland in January.
In different motion on Monday, 2016 Dubai winner Stan Wawrinka earned his sixth consecutive opening-round win by defeating Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3. Roger Federer, the event’s report eight-time champion, was in attendance to look at his countryman.
With the victory, Wawrinka additionally improved to 10 tour-level wins since turning 40 — essentially the most by any participant in that age group within the Open Period. The Swiss will subsequent face third seed and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev or Shang Juncheng.
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