Two-time Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas will compete within the quarter-final of the ATP 500 occasion for the fourth time. Stefanos confronted Karen Khachanov within the second spherical and earned a hard-fought 7-6, 2-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and 28 minutes.
The Greek prevailed with a late break within the decider and celebrated his milestone 350th ATP victory. Stefanos additionally prolonged his sensible run in opposition to Karen, beating the Russian for the ninth time in ten encounters! Khachanov fought effectively at certainly one of his favourite tournaments.
Nevertheless, he obtained damaged at 4-5 within the decider and smashed his racquet in anger. Due to the second set, the Russian claimed one level greater than the Greek. Nevertheless, world no. 11 clinched the pivotal ones.
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They stayed neck and neck behind the primary and second serve and confronted 9 break factors. Tsitsipas obtained damaged 3 times and supplied two return video games, the essential one within the last recreation of the duel. Stefanos landed 36 winners and 38 unforced errors.
Khachanov stood on a 24-36 ratio and erased that deficit after hitting 12 service winners greater than his rival. The Greek had the higher hand from the baseline and on the internet, rising as a deserved winner. Karen saved a break level within the first recreation of the match with a forehand winner.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
They served effectively within the subsequent six video games, with the Russian main 4-3. Khachanov stepped in on the return within the eighth recreation and secured a break after the rival’s double fault. Karen served for the opener at 5-3 and sprayed a forehand error to drop serve and hold his opponent in competition.
They launched a tie break and traded mini-breaks within the fifth and sixth factors. Khachanov netted a forehand within the eighth level and fell 5-3 behind. Tsitsipas landed a service winner for 6-4 and two set factors and seized the primary with a compelled error for 7-6 in 50 minutes.
Karen Khachanov, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
The second set additionally lasted 80 minutes regardless of solely eight video games. Karen made a recent begin and earned six break factors within the first recreation. He transformed the final after a wild backhand from Stefanos to seize an early break and acquire a lift.
Khachanov held at love in recreation two and supplied one other break a couple of minutes later when Tsitsipas positioned a backhand lengthy. The Russian denied three break factors within the sixth recreation for 5-1 and served for the set at 5-2. It was one other thrilling recreation, with three break factors and 5 set factors!
Karen Khachanov, Dubai 2025© Stream screenshot
Karen missed two set factors and supplied his rival three break possibilities. He saved them and created three extra set factors. The lower-ranked participant seized the final with a backhand winner, taking the set 6-2 and introducing a decider after an hour and 41 minutes.
They served effectively within the first 4 video games, and the Greek confronted a break level at 2-2. He denied it with a forehand that hardly caught the road and produced a nice maintain.The 2 rivals delivered 4 nice holds, with Stefanos shifting 5-4 up after a compelled error.
Karen served to remain within the match in recreation ten and cracked beneath strain. Stefanos prolonged the sport with a pointy return and created a match level after the rival’s volley error. Khachanov missed a difficult smash, propelling his rival excessive and smashing his racquet.
