Solely two seeds stay in Dubai going into the quarterfinals, together with No. 1 Daniil Medvedev–who will face Tallon Griekspoor on Thursday. Felix Auger-Aliassime appears to be like to proceed his sturdy kind in opposition to Marin Cilic.(1) Daniil Medvedev vs. Tallon GriekspoorMedvedev and Griekspoor will surprisingly be squaring off for the primary time their careers after they battle for a semifinal spot on the Dubai Obligation Free Tennis Championships on Thursday. Having struggled to seek out his recreation in latest months–if not years–and having not received a title because the 2023 Rome Masters, Medvedev might actually use a giant week. The sixth-ranked Russian is off to an excellent begin with straight-set wins over Jan-Lennard Struff and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. (PR) Marin CilicFrom just about out of nowhere, Cilic is all of the sudden in resurgent kind. The 36-year-old Croat was sidelined from February till August of final season resulting from a recurring knee harm and he missed the primary seven weeks of 2025. Cilic lastly returned final week in Doha, the place he drew Carlos Alcaraz within the opening spherical and performed properly however misplaced 6-4, 6-4. Cilic bought one other dangerous attract Dubai–however not as dangerous as Doha. The 2014 U.S. Open champion upset second-seeded Alex de Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after which overcame Alexei Popyrin 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.
Up subsequent for Cilic is a fifth assembly with Auger-Aliassime. Cilic leads the head-to-head sequence 3-1, however Auger-Aliassime received their most up-to-date encounter 2-6, 7-6(7), 6-2, 7-6(4) on the 2022 Australian Open. The Twenty first-ranked Canadian has been superior to this point this 12 months. He has already captured two titles (Adelaide, Montpellier) and his document stands at 14-4 following three-set victories in Dubai over Alexander Bublik and Nuno Borges. A pair of three-setters is just not best preparation for Cilic when it comes to his bodily state and Auger-Aliassime is taking part in nice, so you must assume this one will go to the favourite.
Choose: Auger-Aliassime in 2
