ATP500 Dubai Open 2026

[Rattie]

Seeds:
1. FAA
2. Alexander Bublik
3. Daniil Medvedev
4. Jack Draper
5. Andrey Rublev
6. Jakub Mensik
7. Karen Khachanov
8. Jiri Lehecka

The long awaited return of Jack Draper, who showed good form at his appearance in Davis Cup but then pulled out of Rotterdam. Most of the seeds have shown good form in their recent appearances in Rotterdam and Doha. Tsitsipas is the defending champion and appears in the draw, as do Fils, Humbert and Hurkacz while Wawrinka benefits from a wild card.
Strong line up promises a good tournament.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025144474997768410

 

[bezs]

FAA the top seed... pretty lightweight field.

 

[Hitman]

Dang, there was a time when Dubai was the top 500 event, now Doha has it out classed.

 

[Rattie]

Dang, there was a time when Dubai was the top 500 event, now Doha has it out classed.

Doha gives Sinner and Alcaraz two weeks to recover for IW. Dubai only one. Makes a difference.

 

[jazzu4ia]

...i 'm expecting Quentin Halys win this tourna...

 

[jazzu4ia]

...will win tomas machac in the final...or maroszan...

 

[Aabye5]

Allez, Félix! Show that you can still win off of indoor courts.

A little more margin on your shots goes a long way outdoors.

 

[dking68]

Jack Alexander Draper if healthy

 

[helterskelter]

Allez, Félix! Show that you can still win off of indoor courts.

A little more margin on your shots goes a long way outdoors.

Still? He has one career title outdoors in his career.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Wawrinka now has 10 wins at age 40+ - the most of any man in the open era, it seems.

 

[tennis24x7]

Time to count in Rubles

 

[Mark Anderson]

Draper did very well. The haircut needs a cap.

 

[McGradey]

That lightning bolt tattoo of Draper’s is… ‘shocking’. Looks terrible!

Good to see him back in the mix though.

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Wawrinka now has 10 wins at age 40+ - the most of any man in the open era, it seems.

Stan v Medvedev could be interesting, given the latter's lack of form recently.

 

[Hitman]

Its good to see Draper showing some quality today.

 

[Aabye5]

Still? He has one career title outdoors in his career.

He didn't do too bad at the US Open last year

 

[helterskelter]

He didn't do too bad at the US Open last year

Was just giving you a hard time.

Wawrinka now has 10 wins at age 40+ - the most of any man in the open era, it seems.

Dr. Ivo ended with nine, I believe. But for the Covid break, he'd probably have got to 10. (He was on six before and won three afterwards).

 

[clayqueen]

I was at the Dubai tournament yesterday. Saw Roger. All the attention was on Roger at the end of the match; poor Stan didn't get a look-in.

 

[clayqueen]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025931938616254466

 

[Rattie]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026269254484394052

https://twitter.com/x/status/2026269949912842630

 

[helterskelter]

Nardi started well against Lehecka, but is now down 1-4 in the third.

Tsitsipas down 4-6 3-4 30-40 against Humbert. If Humbert pulls this one off, Tsitsipas is out of the top 40 next week. He's #42 in the live rankings. And even that is higher than he would have been had he not beaten Meddy last week in Doha.

 

[ChrisRF]

Does anyone know why Doha has so clearly overtaken Dubai in terms of top players in the draw? It used to be the opposite for many years.

 

[helterskelter]

Does anyone know why Doha has so clearly overtaken Dubai in terms of top players in the draw? It used to be the opposite for many years.

Doha only became a 500-level event last year. We'll see whether it continues to get more top players. One factor could be that players can play Doha and get to Indian Wells early, whereas the turn around between Dubai and Indian Wells is a bit shorter. Given that, as you noted rightly on another thread, players are unduly concerned not to overplay these days and consequently many are underplaying, that could be why players would enter Doha rather than Dubai.

 

[Rattie]

Battle between Royer and Rublev already and its only 2-2 in the first set.

 

[Sephiroth]

lacklustre line-up for Dubai

has Qatar taken over?

 

[Rattie]

Rublev takes the first 6-3. Not easy though.

 

[Rattie]

lacklustre line-up for Dubai

has Qatar taken over?

Appearance fees…

 

[Aabye5]

Some fun matchups:

Popyrin v Mensik
FAA v GmP
Med v Stan

 

[Aabye5]

What a set from Félix! Goes down the early break, then breaks GmP twice to take it.

 

[helterskelter]

Top half QF lineup set, and is:

FAA v Lehecka
Meddy v Brooksby

 

[helterskelter]

Griekspoor took the first set against Bublik.

Rublev and Humbert just getting underway in what could be a tight match.

 

[toby55555]

Draper levels v Rinderknech 5-7 7-6, about 200 spectators, clearly not much interest in tennis in Dubai.

 

[tx10is]

almost forgot about draper lol been a minute

 

[Kafel69]

good show from Draper. three sets against Rinder is no joke. hopefully he stays healthy.

Med vs Brooksby sounds promisingly hilarious lol could go either way, seeing Jensen getting back into form. Med also.
Lehecka may upset FAA here
Rublev has a tough match against Rinder and could let it slip away if he goes Chernobyl
Griek can upset Mensik if he decides to show up tomorrow

Overall, a toss-up across the board with no clear favorite amongst this gang. if Med wins, i have him in the F. same for Rublev. no-flag finals are next level cringe, tho.

 

[Hitman]

I'd like to see Rublev go all the way here.

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

Like Rinderknech’s attitude and effort – dude brings his best. Served superbly (interesting serve action), wasn’t broken this match, good win for the Frenchman. Draper, still to find form.
Sorry to see Stan/ Bublik / Khachanov out. Anticipate that Rublev/Mensik/ Medvedev/FAA will get through in the qf’s tomorrow – let’s see.

 

[Kafel69]

Like Rinderknech’s attitude and effort – dude brings his best. Served superbly (interesting serve action), wasn’t broken this match, good win for the Frenchman. Draper, still to find form.
Sorry to see Stan/ Bublik / Khachanov out. Anticipate that Rublev/Mensik/ Medvedev/FAA will get through in the qf’s tomorrow – let’s see.

him and his cousin (VV) must've gone to the same serving coach lol

 

[jon70]

If Dimitrov had played, it would complete my list of Euro guys with unsightly facial hair. Medvedev, Rublev, Stan, Khachanov, Bublik...what is their issue with a razor?

 

[Aabye5]

FAA vs Medvedev! Let's goooo

 

[Kafel69]

good show from Draper. three sets against Rinder is no joke. hopefully he stays healthy.

Med vs Brooksby sounds promisingly hilarious lol could go either way, seeing Jensen getting back into form. Med also.
Lehecka may upset FAA here
Rublev has a tough match against Rinder and could let it slip away if he goes Chernobyl
Griek can upset Mensik if he decides to show up tomorrow

Overall, a toss-up across the board with no clear favorite amongst this gang. if Med wins, i have him in the F. same for Rublev. no-flag finals are next level cringe, tho.

welp, no surprises so far and looks to be a boring day. Med dispatched Jensen quickly and so did FAA. Rublo just took an easy 6-2 on Rinder. i suppose Griek is not showing up today either...

 

[Kafel69]

If Dimitrov had played, it would complete my list of Euro guys with unsightly facial hair. Medvedev, Rublev, Stan, Khachanov, Bublik...what is their issue with a razor?

too much testosterone and charisma.

 

[tx10is]

glad to see Rublev crushing the aggie

 

[jazzu4ia]

...the two friends meddy-rubliov in the final & rubly wins !

 

[Hitman]

...the two friends meddy-rubliov in the final & rubly wins !

Rubes is due.

 

[jazzu4ia]

...wow...griek is looking very confident there ! ...nice battle !

 

[Rattie]

And Griekspoor takes out Menšík!

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

him and his cousin (VV) must've gone to the same serving coach lol

Yah man, VV has an interesting serve action too.

3 of my picks are through - surprised that Griekspoor outplayed Mensik in the decider, but with the losses he has suffered at times, good to see his run here. Anticipating that Rublev will prevail and hoping FAA will also get through.

Rubes is due.

Yah man, hope he does it.

 

[Hitman]

Yah man, VV has an interesting serve action too.

3 of my picks are through - surprised that Griekspoor outplayed Mensik in the decider, but with the losses he has suffered at times, good to see his run here. Anticipating that Rublev will prevail and hoping FAA will also get through.

Yah man, hope he does it.

I want to see Rublev evolved.

 

[Nadal15thslam]

Who will make the final? I think Meddy and Rublev, even though FAA is in very good form now

 

[mightyjeditribble]

Wow, Medvedev is beating FAA comprehensively.