Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete in his third Dubai closing on Saturday, The Greek misplaced the earlier two to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. He know hopes to topple Felix Auger-Aliassime and have fun within the desert for the primary time.
Talking about his first Dubai closing, the Greek admitted the blended emotions after ending runner-up. Whereas dropping a ATP closing isn’t simple, particularly on the younger age, Stefanos felt thrilled about his idol’s achievement.
Particularly, Roger lifted his one centesimal ATP title that day, turning into the second participant within the Open period to realize that after Jimmy Connors. Thus, it was a bittersweet second Tsitsipas nonetheless cherishes. He cracked the top-10 following this outcome and preferred what he noticed about his tennis future.
Reminiscing on the time Roger Federer defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas on the Dubai Responsibility Free Tennis Championships to elevate his one centesimal tour-level title.🙌#NittoATPFlashback | #accomplice pic.twitter.com/iVaxrJfYAx
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2025
The younger gun surprised the legend on the Australian Open a few weeks earlier. Nonetheless, the Swiss responded within the desert at certainly one of his favourite tournaments, beating the Greek 6-4, 6-4 in 70 minutes and writing historical past books.
Roger claimed 15 factors greater than Stefanos and served at 76%. The veteran defended each break factors and mounted the stress on the opposite aspect. Tsitsipas additionally confronted two break factors, failing to defend them and settling for the runner-up prize.
Federer landed 25 winners and 15 unforced errors, taming his strokes properly and forging the win within the shortest vary as much as 4 strokes. They stayed neck and neck within the mid-range and most prolonged exchanges, with the younger gun presenting his wealthy expertise.
Roger grabbed a break within the first sport of the match when his rival sprayed a forehand error. The Swiss served effectively and moved 5-3 up with a forehand volley winner in sport eight. Federer served for the set at 5-4 and squandered a 40-0 lead.
The veteran confronted two break factors and saved them earlier than wrapping up the set after Stefanos’ forehand mistake. They served effectively within the opening eight video games of the second set, with the Australian Open semi-finalist following the legend’s tempo.
Nonetheless, all of it modified at 4-4. From 0-30, Roger landed a winner and welcomed three errors from his opponent to supply an important break and transfer 5-4 in entrance. Federer served for the title in sport ten and landed three service winners, transferring excessive in model and incomes his one centesimal ATP trophy.
“I used to be unhappy for myself but additionally blissful about Roger and his unbelievable achievement. It was an incredible day to recollect, and I knew my tennis was headed in the suitable path. It felt good to struggle within the ATP 500 closing in opposition to a powerful rival, and I wished extra of that sooner or later.
I cracked the top-10 after that week and felt pleased with myself, as I all the time wished to perform that,” Stefanos Tsitsipas stated.
