Auger-Aliassime’s stellar start to season continues with Halys victory to reach Dubai final
The Canadian defeated Quentin Halys 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in Dubai. He will face Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 4 seed, in the final
Felix Auger-Aliassime, Dubai, 2025 © Imago / Psnewz
Felix Auger-Aliassime ended the impressive run of qualifier Quentin Halys at the Dubai Tennis Championships, battling past the Frenchman 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to reach his third final of the year.
The Canadian has been in superb form so far this season, emphatically drawing a line under a disappointing twelve months to kick off a fresh campaign in some style.
Reaching the showpiece in Dubai marks Auger-Aliassime’s third final in two months, having already taken two ATP titles in Adelaide and Montpellier in 2025, and will be his 18th tour-level final.
As a result of his consistent success, Auger-Aliassime is on the cusp of re-entering the world’s top 20 for the first time in nearly three years, having dipped following an extended drop-off in form over the past two seasons.
qualifier halys gives impressive account of himself
Playing in his fourth semi-final this year, the Canadian was given a stern test by the increasingly impressive Halys. Ranked 77th in the world, the Frenchman had to come through two rounds of qualifying before dispatching recent Doha champion Andrey Rublev in the first round en route to a last-four berth. And it was he who made the first move in a closely fought contest.
The pair exchanged breaks in the fourth and fifth games, before Halys landed the final decisive blow in the twelfth to take a one-set lead.
As another upset looked to be on the cards for the Frenchman, however, Auger-Aliassime dialled in to his excellent recent form to wrestle back control of proceedings.
A single break of serve in the fifth game was enough for the world No 21 to clinch the second set and draw level with his opponent.
Another early break for the Canadian came in the third game of the decider, as the finish line gradually came into sight. Halys showed commendable resilience not to let that third set slip away from him, fending off two break points in the fifth game to stay within touching distance before eventually buckling in the ninth and final game as Auger-Aliassime sealed safe passage into another final with a fourth break of serve.
another testing win defines excellent season for auger-aliassime
Difficult wins have been a theme of the Canadian’s path to the final in Dubai, with all three of his prior matches going the distance. This was another impressive comeback win against a gritty and in-form opponent, and it serves as a further feather in the cap of a 2025 season that is gathering ever more momentum.
“I don’t know how I pulled it through today,” Auger-Aliassime said following victory.
“I only played three-setters this week, we were both feeling a bit tired I think. It was just about having positive self talk, I think everyone can relate. When we’re having a tough day, just to have a pep talk and stay positive. I did that well and dug deep physically, so I’m really happy it paid off today.”
Auger-Aliassime has never won the title in Dubai. Indeed, only one of his seven titles thus far have come on an outdoor hard court, with the other six being won on his favoured indoor hard-court conditions.
He will have to get past fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in order to lift an eighth career ATP title and that third for the year.
But, currently, Auger-Aliassime is arguably the most in-form player on tour. In this type of form, it seems a tall order to stop him getting his hands on yet another trophy in this remarkably resurgent season.
