mightyjeditribble
Legend
6-4 6-2. Didn't really expect that result or the scoreline.
ATP500 Dubai Open 2026
- Thread starter Rattie
- Start date
Nadal15thslam
Hall of Fame
Well, the h2h is 7-2 for Meddy and FAA has one win on clay and one win after Meddy retired because of food poisoning
Aabye5
Talk Tennis Guru
The match was closer than the scoreline suggested, but Medvedev proved again why he is a former number 1.
Although why FAA chose to serve-volley against Med, I'll never know. He already proved this doesn't work against him in their match at the ATP Tour in 2022.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
I saw the second half of the match.
Aabye5
Talk Tennis Guru
The first set was definitely more competitive. Medvedev got the break in the last game.
Nadal15thslam
Hall of Fame
I hope Griekspoor loses this match, he completely ruined Rublev's rhythm with that mto.
ChrisJR3264
Legend
No this match was never close. Med never faced any pressure on his serve. In all reality , that first set Felix was struggling to hold all his service games until med made his mark at the end. Double break in the second.
He took Felix’s legs with long rallies and backhand to backhand , Felix tried running around to hit forehands losing court positioning battle.
helterskelter
G.O.A.T.
I predicted that Meddy would win yesterday in a private chat, but my interlocutors mostly didn't believe me.
Aabye5
Talk Tennis Guru
What do you mean? The first set was very close, Felix was holding serve well until the end. He only faced the one break point. Set point kind of summed it up, where Med wasn't even sure he had won it for a minute. Agreed about him taking Felix's legs away from him, though. Felix looked exhausted.
In the second set, Felix tried to mix it up with more serve-and-volley (probably due to fatigue), but that doesn't work against Med, and Med ran away with it.
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Hitman
Bionic Poster
Lets wait and see if he wins the title first...he already won a title this year in Brisbane.
Nadal15thslam
Hall of Fame
What a disgusting cheater
Aabye5
Talk Tennis Guru
Why is he a cheater?
Kafel69
Professional
Griek showed up this week lol it's mostly all mental at this level. just look at VV. it's not like he magically learned how to hit the ball better now vs when he was well outside top-100 just late last year...4 top 20 guys in a row knocked out by Griekspoor?I thought his days of doing things like this were behind him. He'll probably roll up to Indian Wells and lose in the first round.
ChrisJR3264
Legend
Med pushed Felix several times from 40-15 several times to deuce in the first set.
This match was not close despite the score. Even at 4-4 you could tell med could easily take the match over and he did.
Nadal15thslam
Hall of Fame
At 6-5 in the first set he took a mto, Rublev was about to serve to make it 6-6 and of course after that break he lost his serve. You can clearly see he wasn't injured in that 2nd set, no injured player wins a set vs Rublev, at this level every detail matters.
Aabye5
Talk Tennis Guru
And Felix was up 15-30 on a couple of Med's service games, too. As the set went on and the points were longer, that's when the tide changed. It looked like it was heading toward a tiebreak until the middle of the last game.
mightyjeditribble
Legend
I think Medvedev will let Griekspoor win. He's already got a Dubai title.
jazzu4ia
Semi-Pro
...exactly...you 're right...it was quite clear he felt pains in his right hamstring according his movements...thats why he call mto...fair play...besides, i watced the whole match and griek was the better player & deserved to win...sorry for andrei...he is a good guy...
Rattie
G.O.A.T.
Perhaps it’s just something minor that strapping can alleviate. Otherwise Daniil could stomp all over him.
YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
I’ll start by saying my OCD and anxiety have been at a high pitch again this week unfortunately, so as a result I have not watched any of the matches live (although that will change tomorrow). It’s a pity I can’t even really enjoy Daniil’s success because of it, but for the rest of y’all I’m very happy believe me. Anyways…
Best performance of the year by Daniil, easily, maybe his best in over a year. There’s just something about this court in Dubai that brings out his best. Like Tiger at Augusta, even when his game is crap, he can play great. After not doing anything special the first three days but getting a lot of cooperation from his opponents I didn’t have high expectations. Glad to be proven wrong.
It was vintage in every way, and a throwback to when Daniil used to dominate FAA before the script was flipped. Making almost every ball, deflecting pace to use against his opponent, great serving, and, after what has been a miserable season on his second serve, winning over 70% of those points, which was needed since he was missing the first a lot more today.
Daniil completely and utterly dominated from the baseline, forcing Felix into total desperation mode and abandoning his base game. I can’t remember the last time Med completely broke down a quality opponent’s game like that. First win against a Top 10 opponent not named Zverev or De Minaur since Wimbledon 2024, and an in-form one at that.
I do wish tomorrow’s match was against Andrey for several reasons, but sadly it was not meant to be. Don’t think I need to tell anyone why Tallon is dangerous. It’s all down to if Daniil plays the big points right.
Wishing all us fans well.
Best performance of the year by Daniil, easily, maybe his best in over a year. There’s just something about this court in Dubai that brings out his best. Like Tiger at Augusta, even when his game is crap, he can play great. After not doing anything special the first three days but getting a lot of cooperation from his opponents I didn’t have high expectations. Glad to be proven wrong.
It was vintage in every way, and a throwback to when Daniil used to dominate FAA before the script was flipped. Making almost every ball, deflecting pace to use against his opponent, great serving, and, after what has been a miserable season on his second serve, winning over 70% of those points, which was needed since he was missing the first a lot more today.
Daniil completely and utterly dominated from the baseline, forcing Felix into total desperation mode and abandoning his base game. I can’t remember the last time Med completely broke down a quality opponent’s game like that. First win against a Top 10 opponent not named Zverev or De Minaur since Wimbledon 2024, and an in-form one at that.
I do wish tomorrow’s match was against Andrey for several reasons, but sadly it was not meant to be. Don’t think I need to tell anyone why Tallon is dangerous. It’s all down to if Daniil plays the big points right.
Wishing all us fans well.
ChrisJR3264
Legend
And give up the potential to finally win a tournament twice? Lol
ChrisJR3264
Legend
I watched the match. Felix never looked like he had control in the rallies and out of position. Med had him uncomfortable in the backhand to backhand and Felix was out of position running around them. Med had a 9.21 performance rate.
This wasn’t close.
Sorry to tell you.
YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
I mean, it was important for him to get out of that 15-30 game early because it could have easily changed the match, but after that, Daniil was in complete control and won basically every point that Felix wasn’t able to get a comfortable net approach on.
On another Daniil’s serve has been miles better this week, although not as good today. I noticed Tomas made him stay in Doha last week and practice it a bunch. Seems like his toss has gotten a bit lower again after it had gotten higher, maybe a bit more to the left too.
Tallawah Tennis
Professional
Nothing against Griekspoor, but disappointed that Rublev couldn’t find enough to get through.
Whilst I was supporting FAA, Medvedev played well and deserved the outcome. His winners to clinch both sets were superb – good to see him enjoying his tennis. Supporting DM in the final.
Agassi-Fan
Rookie
I was really pulling for Rublev to win this tournament. He has had a great week so I hope he takes this confidence and keeps pushing forward this year.
Rattie
G.O.A.T.
Me too. Rublev looked really strong in Doha and here but credit to Griekspoor for getting the win.
I’d like to see Daniil take this one too. It’s good to see him playing good tennis again at last.
mightyjeditribble
Legend
It was a joke ...
Enceladus
Legend
Technically speaking, there have been several tennis events in tennis history that were not finished due to external influences. This year's Dubai could be another one. A shame for Meddy.Iran is launching missiles at Dubai so there is a big question mark over whether the tournament gets to go ahead today
ChrisJR3264
Legend
I know hence the “lol” at the end.It was a joke ...
ScentOfDefeat
G.O.A.T.
I'm convinced this war is just a geopolitical excuse to stop Medvedev winning the same title twice.
Incredibly it's on.
Rattie
G.O.A.T.
All flights have now been suspended out of Dubai. I doubt either Medvedev or Griekspoor will be in the right mood to play tennis with bombs flying around. Yikes!
Aabye5
Talk Tennis Guru
Terenigma
Talk Tennis Guru
I've not read that, all evidence I've seen is the match is simply cancled and neither player wins so I'm not sure what that means for points and titles. Do they give both players the final points or will the match be re-scheduled? I mean quite frankly, Tennis matters very little in moments like this but It still has me curious.
Never mind, Just saw the update now. Medvedev wins by walkover due to opponents injury. Crazy!
ChrisJR3264
Legend
As you posted this, talon retired.
Wild.
Breakpointerer
Legend
So Medvedev finally becomes a repeat champion via walkover due to his opponent being injured while UAE is getting attacked
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