The Dubai Tennis Championships have kicked off with excitement as top players secured their spots in the second round during the opening matches held on February 24, 2025. This year’s tournament has hosted several thrilling encounters at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, currently ranked world no.11, showcased his skills against Lorenzo Sonego. Tsitsipas, with track record and experience, achieved victory with confidence, finishing the match with impressive scores of 7-6(4) and 6-3. His performance was punctuated with clutch serves and overall strategic play, allowing him to seal his win with an ace. "Stefanos Tsitsipas sealed first round victory over Lorenzo Sonego with an ace," reported ATP.
Joining Tsitsipas, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, now ranked no.29, also advanced after defeating Zhizhen Zhang with scores of 6-3 and 7-6(3). The match lasted 1 hour and 27 minutes, demonstrating Mpetshi Perricard’s rising prowess on the court. Adding to his earnings, he pocketed $22,100 from this win alone, bringing his total earnings this season to $47,350. If he proceeds to win his next match, he could add another $41,350, bringing his season earnings to $88,700. He showed commendable serving skills, winning 86% of his points on his first serve, and hitting 13 aces. "Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard defeats Zhizhen Zhang 6-3 7-6(3) in the 1st round," reported Tennis Tonic.
Karen Khachanov, currently ranked no.24, faced Daniel Evans and emerged victorious with scores of 6-1 and 6-3. His solid performance sets the stage for an anticipated encounter against Tsitsipas, whom he has faced eight times before, with Tsitsipas leading their match-up 8-1. Khachanov expressed optimism about his game, hoping to rectify earlier losses against Tsitsipas.
Meanwhile, Alexei Popyrin, ranked no.27, won against Hady Habib with scores of 6-2 and 6-4. Despite this win, Popyrin had been struggling with his overall match record this season, currently standing at 1-4. This victory is important for him as he sought to regain momentum.
The tournament has proven to be competitive, with additional matches expected to draw attention. Gael Monfils and Matteo Berrettini, as well as Daniil Medvedev against Jan-Lennard Struff, are among the intriguing second-round matchups to look forward to. The excitement continues as the Dubai Tennis Championships progress and players strive for advancement through the rounds.
Fans are eager to see if Tsitsipas can continue his ascendance, especially as he prepares to face Khachanov again. Each match not only contributes to the players' statistics but also to their standings and began the narrative of this thrilling tennis season.