Novak Djokovic wasted no time mocking Stefanos Tsitsipas after the Greek star finally prevailed in the Dubai Championships to end his ATP 500 streak. Defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 in the last, the Greek tennis star won his first ATP 500 title.
Before this victory, Tsitsipas had lost eleven straight ATP 500 finals, including two agonizing defeats in Dubai in 2019 and 2020. His most recent win broke this unwanted run and placed him back into the top 10 of the ATP for the first time since May 2024. The victory was a welcome sign of confidence after a difficult beginning to the 2025 season that ended him first at the Australian Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic used social media to recognize the victory in his typical clever way even as the 26-year-old celebrated his long-awaited triumph. Although playfully remarked, the Serbian legend congratulated Tsitsipas.
Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas have had their share of clashes over the years, including their match in the 2020 Dubai final, where the 37-year-old won in straight sets. Tsitsipas, at last, flipped the tide on ATP 500 events with this most recent triumph, and the Serbian tennis star’s casual comment provided a lighthearted twist to the moment.
After a poor start to the year, Stefanos Tsitsipas entered the 2025 Dubai Championships with a small 34 record and fought to get into his groove. He even changed his racket before the competition to recover his form. He benefited from the change since he played some of his top tennis for months.
He had a difficult path ahead of him to win the championship. Before arranging a battle with AugerAliassime in the final, Tsitsipas had to fight through difficult opponents, including Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini, and Tallon Griekspoor. Particularly under pressure, the Greek star showed great resilience when he saved all seven break points he confronted in the game.
Stefanos Tsitsipas broke his opponent’s serve three times and consistently kept his serve in the last match versus Felix Auger-Aliassime, showing superb control. The Greek was surgical, turning his first match point with an ace and clinching the win in only 88 minutes.
Even though he started 2025 with 16 match victories and two trophies, Auger-Aliassime battled to counter Tsitsipas’s belligerent play. Appearing in his third final of the year, the Canadian fell short as he could not turn his break chances into points. With his serving ability, the Greek tennis star was in total charge from the baseline and at the net and had a 23-15 edge in service winners.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has ended his long ATP 500 finals curse. With a much-needed title and a comeback to the top 10, he has poised himself for a fast sprint in the next few months. Novak Djokovic’s playful jibe adds a comedic aside to the triumph, keeping tennis followers entertained. The Greek will have everyone watching to see whether he can keep this level and compete for more important honors in 2025.
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