Dubai, UAE – Top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime survived a tense opener at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday, finally overcoming China’s Zhizhen Zhang after six match points to reach the Round of 16, while British No1 Jack Draper marked his return to the ATP Tour with a straight-sets win. Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka also made history, becoming the oldest player to win a match in the tournament’s 34-year history.
Auger-Aliassime, ranked No. 8 globally, secured a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory, saving four break points and holding his nerve in a second-set tiebreak. “It’s kind of testing my growth, self-belief, and composure – and I want to be in this position in even bigger tournaments one day,” he said. He will face France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who narrowly defeated Tunisia’s Moez Echargui 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 7-6(4) after a grueling three-set match that included medical timeouts. Echargui, ranked No. 141 and the highest-ranked Arab player on the ATP Tour, described the experience as part of his broader development. “Despite the result, I’m feeling really positive. Playing against top players in these big tournaments is where we want to be,” he said.
In another highlight, Wawrinka defeated Lebanese wildcard Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3. The 40-year-old Swiss veteran surpassed Roger Federer’s record as the oldest match winner in Dubai. Hassan, making his tournament debut at World No. 289, drew attention not just for his play but for a post-match handshake with Federer, describing the moment as “a privilege.”
Meanwhile, Draper, returning from an eight-month layoff due to a recurring arm injury, beat French qualifier Quentin Halys 7-6(8), 6-3. The No. 4 seed relied on a new serve technique and 13 aces to ease through his first-round match. “It wasn’t my cleanest performance, but after all this time, I’m really proud of myself,” Draper said.
The opening day highlighted a mix of emerging talent, veteran resilience, and comebacks, underscoring Dubai’s role as a key stop on the ATP 500 calendar. For local and regional players, the tournament also offers exposure to high-level competition and opportunities to learn from world-class athletes.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, continues through Saturday with a mix of seeded stars, local wildcards, and returning players vying for the title.
