Auger-Aliassime Survives Six Match Points in Dubai Thriller
It was far from straightforward, but Félix Auger-Aliassime proved once again why he belongs among the elite of men’s tennis.
The Canadian star had to battle not just his opponent, but his own nerves, before finally closing out a tense opening-round victory at the Dubai Championships. Facing China’s Zhizhen Zhang , Auger-Aliassime looked in control early. He took the first set 6-3 with confident serving and sharp shot-making. But the second set turned into a mental and emotional test.
At 5-4, he had match points on return. They slipped away. At 6-5, serving for the match, more opportunities came. Again, they disappeared. What should have been a routine finish suddenly became a tightrope walk. The longer it went, the more the pressure built. And that is where elite sport becomes psychological warfare.
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In the end, it took six match points before Félix Auger-Aliassime finally sealed the win in a tiebreak, 7-6. He leaned on his serve, firing 11 aces and won a strong percentage of his first-serve points. But what stood out was not just the power. It was the resilience. He stayed composed enough to reset mentally, even after repeated frustration.
This matters because Auger-Aliassime is not just another player in the draw. He is the tournament’s top seed. He is ranked inside the world’s top ten. And he arrived in Dubai in strong form, having won a title recently and reaching another final. Expectations are high and with expectations comes pressure.
Last year, he made the final in Dubai before losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas . So this event carries unfinished business. Every match now carries weight, especially as the season builds momentum toward the biggest tournaments on the calendar.
For Zhang, it was a missed opportunity. He served well and kept fighting, but he could not convert on key break chances. And at this level, those small margins decide everything.
For Auger-Aliassime, the takeaway is clear. Champions are not defined by easy wins. They are defined by how they handle discomfort, doubt and pressure. He bent, but he did not break.
The road ahead in Dubai will only get tougher. But if he can survive nights like this, his confidence may only grow stronger.
Stay with us for continuing coverage as the Dubai Championships unfold and as one of Canada’s brightest tennis stars pushes deeper into the draw.
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