Felix Auger-Aliassime becomes sixth MP in Dubai opener, Stan Wawrinka wins | ATP Tour
Dubai
Auger-Aliassime converts sixth in Dubai opener as Wawrinka wins
Top seed defeated Zhang in ATP 500 event, R2 vs. Mpetshi Perricard
February 23, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Felix Auger-Aliassime became the top seed in an ATP 250+ event in Dubai for the first time this week (file photo).
Written by ATP Staff
Felix Auger-Aliassime returns to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships determined to go one step further than last year, with the top seed making a confident start to his 2026 season on Monday despite needing six match points to cross the finish line.
The PIF ATP Ranking No. 8 player began his title bid at the ATP 500 event with a 6-3, 7-4 victory over Zhang Zhizhen. Twelve months ago, Auger-Aliassime reached the Dubai final but lost to the inspired Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the Canadian once again the favorite.
“I stopped counting at some point and it was so frustrating,” Auger-Aliassime said of the missed match point. “As a player, having match point is where you want to be, but it’s weird how your brain can trick you. I was further away from losing than he was, and he should be the one pressing. But I told myself ‘if there’s a third set, I’ll be there’.”
Auger-Aliassime has rediscovered his best form since withdrawing from his first-round match against Nuno Borges at the Australian Open in January. He has won nine of his last 10 games, lifting the trophy in Montpellier before finishing runner-up in Rotterdam.
With speed and cunning court coverage, Auger-Aliassime saved all four break points he faced against Zhang, according to Infosys ATP Statistics. The 25-year-old missed two match points at 5-4 in the second set and three at 6-5, but showed calm reaction in the tie-break.
Auger-Aliassime is competing as the top seed for the first time in an ATP event above the 250 level and will next face Giovanni Mpesi-Pericard, who ended a five-game losing streak at tour level. The big French qualifier defeated Tunisian wild card Moez Echargui 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 7-6(4) for his first win since reaching the quarterfinals in Auckland in January.
In other action on Monday, 2016 Dubai champion Stan Wawrinka beat Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3 to win his sixth consecutive first-round match. Eight-time tournament champion Roger Federer was also in attendance to watch his compatriot play.
With the victory, Wawrinka also increased his win count at tour level to 10 since turning 40 – the most for a player of his age group in the Open era. The Swiss will next face third seed and 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev or Shang Juncheng.
