Medvedev Secures Second Dubai Crown

Daniil Medvedev has won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for the second time in his career, after Tallon Griekspoor was forced to withdraw from the final due to a left hamstring injury.

This victory marks the first time Medvedev has successfully defended a title on the ATP Tour.

Griekspoor’s Injury Leads to Walkover

Griekspoor sustained the injury during his semi-final win over Andrey Rublev on Friday. A medical assessment on Saturday determined he was unfit to compete in the final.

“Of course unfortunate, but Tallon, I could witness yesterday that maybe he had an injury. You never know how these injuries develop through the night. Sometimes they secure easier and you can play, like with some soreness. Sometimes they get worse, so I guess it got worse.”

Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev’s Tournament Run

Medvedev reached the final in commanding form, securing straight-sets victories over Shang Juncheng, Stan Wawrinka and Jenson Brooksby. He then defeated top seed Félix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 6-2 in the semi-finals.

“I played a great tournament, the four matches I played. Of course I wanted to play the final, but it is what it is. I played an unbelievable match yesterday, so I would either way take it as a final for me and I’m happy to win the tournament,” Medvedev stated.

Expanding Trophy Collection

This Dubai title is Medvedev’s 23rd career trophy, adding to his previous ATP 500 wins in Tokyo (2018), Vienna (2022), Rotterdam (2023), and Dubai (2023). He is now tied with Jannik Sinner for the second-most hard-court titles among active players, trailing only Novak Djokovic.

Most Active ATP Tour Titles
Novak Djokovic: 101
Carlos Alcaraz: 26
Jannik Sinner: 24
Alexander Zverev: 24
Daniil Medvedev: 23

Travel Concerns Following Airspace Closure

The win came amidst unusual circumstances, as UAE airspace was closed on Saturday as a precautionary measure following Iranian attacks. This closure casts doubt on the participation of several players – including Medvedev and Griekspoor – in the upcoming ATP Masters 1000 tournament at Indian Wells.