DUBAI: From Roger Federer’s record eight titles to Novak Djokovic’s domination — three successive wins from 2009 to 2011 — the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships have long proved an event popular with former champions. And that tradition will continue this month as a quartet of previous men’s winners prepare to compete once more.
From Feb. 23-28, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Ugo Humbert, and Stefanos Tsitsipas will all feature, promising a mix of elite competition, dramatic storylines, and the unmistakable glamour that has made the ATP 500 event a highlight on the men’s calendar.
Coming a week after the city’s WTA 1000 tournament featuring all the world’s top 20 female players, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Al-Garhoud will light up once again with a field that includes eight of the world’s top 20 male players.
This year marks the first time since 2023 that Medvedev — ranked No. 12 in the world — is not the tournament’s top seed. He won his only Dubai title in 2023, beating that year’s top seed Djokovic in the semifinal. A former world No. 1, Medvedev is considered one of the most imposing hard-court players of his generation, with strong defensive resilience and surgical precision from the baseline.
Within 18 months of lifting the Silver Dhow Trophy, Medvedev had reached two consecutive semifinals at Wimbledon and the final of the Australian Open. A second Grand Slam title to accompany his 2021 US Open title remains elusive, but this year he has got off to a strong start with victory in Brisbane bringing a 22nd ATP title. The Muscovite’s return to Dubai will be watched by throngs of fans eager to see whether the popular 29-year-old can dominate under the Dubai lights once more.
Among those standing in Medvedev’s way — aside from this month’s top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, world No. 10 Alexander Bublik, and British No. 1 Jack Draper — is his flame-haired compatriot Rublev, a winner in Dubai in 2022. If Medvedev embodies control, Rublev brings chaos, shuttling around the court and overwhelming opponents with raw power and relentless intensity.
The Dubai tournament’s timing early in the season, coupled with its consistent conditions, suits his aggressive baseline style, and as he chases an 18th career title, he will be eager to rediscover the sharpness and conviction that carried him to glory four years ago.
The 2024 tournament, in which Rublev defaulted in the final four, provided a surprise winner as Frenchman Humbert beat Bublik in the final to secure what was only his second ATP 500 title. Humbert was the fifth seed, but few fancied him to come through a tough draw that pitted him against compatriot Gael Monfils, three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray, No. 3 seed Hubert Hurkacz, then-world No. 4 Medvedev, and Bublik. Yet aside from an opening match wobble and a tough battle with Hurkacz in the last eight, he did so without dropping a set.
Left-handed, elegant, and evidently fearless, Humbert’s success resonated with fans who were reminded that Dubai is not only a stage for established stars, but also a launchpad for the next generation. His return this month will be closely followed as he looks to utilize fond memories and the confidence they can bring.
Completing the quartet is Tsitsipas, the reigning champion who finally clinched his long-awaited Dubai crown after years of near misses. Following back-to-back final defeats in 2019 and 2020 to Federer and Djokovic, the Greek produced an assured performance to beat Auger-Aliassime to lift the trophy, his first ATP 500 title, and re-enter the world top 10. The 27-year-old’s stylish all-court game has long captivated audiences, but if he is to defend his title this month, he will be achieving a feat no player has managed since Federer in 2015.
