Published: 10:46, February 28, 2026
Medvedev to face Griekspoor in bid for second Dubai title
By Reuters
Daniil Medvedev hits a return during the men's singles semifinal between Arthur Rinderknech of France and Daniil Medvedev of Russia at the ATP World Tour Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, Oct 11, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Medvedev, who has won 22 titles at 22 different tournaments, arrived in Dubai with a point to prove after early exits in Rotterdam and Doha.

However, the third seed has been in scintillating form in Dubai, dispatching Shang Juncheng, Stan Wawrinka, Jenson Brooksby and Auger-Aliassime -- all in straight sets.

"It has been an amazing four matches, probably playing better and better each match, today being the best performance," said Medvedev.

"If I can put in an even better performance tomorrow, I will have my chances to win and that is what I am going to try to do."

Standing in his way will be Griekspoor, who continued his giant-killing run by beating fifth seed Andrey Rublev 7-5 7-6(6) in the other semi-final.

The Dutchman denied the 2022 champion, who also finished runner-up the following year, another shot at the Dubai trophy, saving two set points in the second-set tiebreak.

"No idea how I pulled off this one, I could barely walk at the end of the first set," said Griekspoor, who took a medical timeout for treatment in the opening set.

"He served extremely well. I got very lucky in the tiebreak to win it in two sets ... I landed with a serve and felt something in my hamstring.

"If he had won the tiebreak, I don't know if I would have continued."

It marked three consecutive top-20 wins for Griekspoor for the first time in his career after he beat second seed Alexander Bublik and Jakub Mensik en route to the final.

Griekspoor, who has won three ATP 250 titles in his career, will be looking to add a first ATP 500 trophy to his collection when he faces Medvedev.