By Richard Pagliaro Friday, February 27, 2026
Photo credit: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
In the tennis version of sudden death, Taron Grixpool Found a new life.
Grikspur saved two set points in decider duel Andrei Rublev 7-5, 7-6(6) to advance to the finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
In this semifinal, both semifinalists hit 20 aces and 37 winners.
Grikspur produced his most positive tennis under pressure, saving all six break points he faced and fighting back from 4-6 down in the decider to beat fifth seed Rublev for the first time in four games.
All of this happened even though Grixpur came off the court at 6-5 in the first set to nurse an apparent left leg injury.
Grikspoor, ranked 25th in the world, defeated second seed Alexander Bublik in the second round and 13th-ranked Jakub Mencic in the quarter-finals to achieve three consecutive top-20 wins and advance to the ATP final for the sixth time.
Grikspur will face the former world number one for his first title since winning Mallorca last June Daniil Medvedev in tomorrow’s final.
Master Medvedev’s Anatomy Felix Auger-Aliassime He advanced to the finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships circuit for the 42nd time with a score of 6-4, 6-2.
It was Medvedev’s first top-10 win since beating seventh-ranked Alex De Minaur at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 in October.
Dubai 2023 champion Medvedev will compete for his second title of the year tomorrow as he continues his quest to become a two-time champion. All 22 of Medvedev’s titles have come in 22 different events, and if he wins the Dubai title it will be the first time he has won the same title twice.
A year ago, Grikspur defeated Medvedev 2-6, 7-6(7), 7-5 in the Dubai quarter-finals, winning four match points in the only meeting of their careers. This is Grixpo’s second ATP 500 final after the 2023 final in Washington, DC.
Now, the 29-year-old Dutchman is bold and daring in the biggest moments.
In the 11th game, Rublev won three break points and the pressure increased sharply.
Grikspur hit an aggressive forehand to tie the game in the first game. On the second break point, Grikspur hit his second serve on the T stage. Facing the third break point, Grikspur once again used the T-stand to defeat the Russian and draw.
Grikspur hit back-to-back aces – his 10th and 11th in the semifinals – to hold on to the score at 6-5.
That game took its toll. Grikspur called in a physio and was taken off the field to receive treatment for an apparent injury to his left leg.
Back on the court, the Dutchman wanted to shorten the score and hit a diagonal forehand winner to make the score 30-40. Grikspur received the serve with his backhand and passed the ball across the court with both hands to get the only break of serve and win the first set in 57 minutes.
Grikspur hit his 13th ace to lead 2-1 in the second set.
At the net, Rublev was cruising on serve. Rublev won 20 of his 21 service points in the set when he hit an ace off the tee to tie the match at 5.
Rublev’s forehand crossed to force a decider in the second set.
The Russian’s return broke the top of the tape, and Grikspur’s forehand was good but long, giving up a small break at the opening point.
Rublev, the 2022 Dubai champion, hit four consecutive aces to extend his lead to 5-2. Rublev held two set points when Grikspur hit a forehand into the net in the second set to force a decider.
After the return, Grikspur went all out and saved the first set point with a forehand return winner that elicited a grin from Rublev, who could barely move when the ball hit the ground. On the second set point, Rublev missed the return ball.
Grixpu won the match point 7-6 on the outside of the serve, Rublev returned the ball with a forehand, and the Dutch ended the game after 1 hour and 45 minutes.
How will Grikspur handle the final with his leg problem? And can Medvedev, who has won 22 championships in 22 different events, finally win the same championship twice?
We’ll find out tomorrow.
