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Rublev wins battle of former champions to reach Dubai quarters
Meanwhile, top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada overcame a poor start to beat French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to enter the quarters
- PUBLISHED: Wed 25 Feb 2026, 10:40 PM UPDATED: Thu 26 Feb 2026, 12:39 AM
Andrey Rublev won the battle of former champions as the Russian star beat Ugo Humbert of France 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 to enter the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday.
Champion in 2022, Rublev overcame a spirited challenge from the 2024 Dubai winner to continue his good run of form, having reached the Qatar Open semifinals last week.
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Meanwhile, top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada overcame a poor start to beat French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
Despite trailing 1-4 in the first set, Auger-Aliassime fought back against the big-serving Frenchman to reach the quarters.
In last eight, Auger-Aliassime will face the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka who beat Pablo Carreño Busta of Spain 7-6 (8/6) 6-4.
But second seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan slumped to a 6-3 7-6 (7/4) defeat to Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
Griekspoor's reward is a quarterfinal clash with sixth seed Jakub Menšík of Czech Republic.
The 20-year-old Czech rising star defeated Alexei Popyrin of Australia 6-3 6-2.
In the last match of the night, British fourth seed Jack Draper was knocked out by Arthur Rinderknech of France.
The Frenchman won an engrossing three-set battle 7-5 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Rublev.
Rituraj Borkakoty is Sports Editor and has spent more than two decades writing on his sporting heroes. He also loves an underdog story, so if you have one, share it with him. He would love to bring it to life.
