Only three seeds remain in Dubai, and that includes Marseille winner Ugo Humbert–who will meet Tallon Griekspoor in round two on Wednesday. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Nuno Borges are also aiming for a place in the last eight.
Tallon Griekspoor vs. (5) Ugo Humbert
Humbert and Griekspoor will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Their only previous encounter did not disappoint, as Humbert triumphed 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6(5) on the indoor hard courts of Montpellier in 2021.
Speaking of third-set tiebreakers, that is how Griekspoor survived on Tuesday. The 47th-ranked Dutchman saved three match points before outlasting Roman Safiullin 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-6(1) in two hours and 59 minutes. Griekspoor has played a ridiculous 11 tiebreakers in his last six matches. Humbert had no such issues in his Dubai opener, destroying Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-0 in an hour and eight minutes. The 15th-ranked Frenchman is now 10-2 for the season 6-0 in his last six matches, a stretch that includes a title in Marseille. On paper this is more of an even matchup than the rankings suggest, but the fatigue factor may be too much for Griekspoor to overcome.
Pick: Humbert in 3
Nuno Borges vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime has already won 13 matches and two titles this year, having lifted trophies in Adelaide and Montpellier. The world No. 21 maintained momentum on Tuesday–but just barely. He needed two hours and 49 minutes to get past 2024 Dubai runner-up Alexander Bublik 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-3.
Up next for Auger-Aliassime is a first-ever showdown against Borges, who is also in stellar form. The world No. 38 from Portugal is 10-6 so far this season with a semifinal showing in Auckland, a third-round performance at the Australian Open, and a 6-2, 6-1 rout of Arthur Fils on Tuesday. Fils, though, has been dealing with an injury and was nowhere close to his best. Auger-Aliassime is an entirely different opponent at the moment. Although the Canadian is coming off a tough match, it is never an overly physical struggle against Bublik. Auger-Aliassime wields far more weapons than Borges and should be able to get off the court before requiring another third set.
Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 2
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Humbert in 2
Felix in 2