Resurgent Tsitsipas eases past Griekspoor to reach Dubai final

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No 4 seed, eased past Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

It is the Greek’s 30th ATP final as he targets a 12th career title. But it is his first final since losing to Casper Ruud in the showpiece of the Barcelona Open last season.

Tsitsipas has endured an underwhelming start to the year, falling in the first round at both the Australian Open and in Doha.

However, his run in Dubai has signalled a welcome return to form for the Greek as he looks to re-establish himself as one of the sport’s leading names.

It was a clean and clinical performance, with Tsitsipas breaking once in each set without reply to ease his way into a 30th career final.

Tsitsipas’ first-serve win percentage sat at a hugely impressive 91%, with Griekspoor finding himself completely shut out of his opponent’s service games. The Dutchman failed to earn a single break point in what was ultimately a one-sided contest, more so than the score line in each set suggests.

Tsitsipas, ranked No 11, will play Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final, with the in-form Canadian looking to secure his third title in two months.

The Greek won against Italian Lorenzo Sonego (7-6 (4), 6-3), Russian Karen Khachanov (7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4) and Italian Matteo Berrettini (7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Griekspoor, ranked No 47, defeated Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin (5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1)), Frenchman Ugo Humbert, the No 5 seed (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) and Russian Daniil Medvedev, the top seed (2-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5).

Dubai ATP 500, other semi-final result (Aviation Club Tennis Centre, hard, USD 3.237.670):

• Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Quentin Halys (Q): 5-7, 6-4, 6-3