The Jiri Vesely title charge shows no sign of abating in Dubai.

The Czech qualifier backed up his stunning quarter-final win over World No. 1 Novak Djokovic with another Top 20 victory on Friday, outlasting Denis Shapovalov in a three-hour, 12-minute epic to reach the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 7-6(3) victory.

“I think I’m having a dream run here so far,” said Vesely after the win. “I was just trying my best to really enjoy it as much as possible. It was my first ATP 500 semi-final and the only way to get through is just fight until the last point, and I’m very happy.”

Despite at times lacking some of the consistency that took him past Djokovic, Vesely continued to strike his groundstrokes powerfully throughout against the World No. 14 Shapovalov and now looks to claim a third ATP Tour title against Andrey Rublev on Saturday.

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

• TV Schedule
• Watch Live On Tennis TV
• Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App

At No. 123 in the ATP Rankings, Vesely was the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in the 30-year history of the Dubai event, but the Czech showed no signs of being overwhelmed as he won the first eight points of the match on his way to an early 3-0 lead.

In the pair’s first tour-level meeting, Shapovalov began to adjust to the clean, flat hitting of his opponent and the Canadian’s slow start did not prove costly. The 2022 ATP Cup winner found his rhythm to reclaim the break and then convert his second set point to clinch an absorbing tie-break.

Vesely reacted well to dropping his first set since the final round of qualifying, not allowing his 22-year-old opponent to get away. The Czech began to approach the net more regularly and, although Shapovalov fended off the only break point of the set, Vesely was not to be denied as he upped his level to take the second set tie-break and level the match.

A third set full of twists saw both players recover from 0/40 on their own serve before the match headed to a third tie-break. Vesely once again chose the crucial moments to produce his best, opening up a 4/1 lead that proved too big a deficit for Shapovalov to recover.

The Czech’s success was again based on an explosive serving performance. He ended with 15 aces and won 80 per cent (48/60) of points behind his first delivery overall.

Vesely admitted he had not seen his run to the final in Dubai coming. “Sometimes things happen, you don’t even know why,” he said. “I was pretty much down, the last couple of months, and suddenly this happens.

“Sometimes it happens so quick, and the only thing to do is stay patient, work hard every day and just wait for your chances.”

The Czech, who reached a career-high ranking of 35 in 2015, now faces a first ATP Head2Head meeting with second seed Andrey Rublev in Saturday’s championship match after the Russian defeated Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) earlier on Friday.

American Reilly Opelka has continued to rise up the ATP Rankings in the past two years, winning tour-level titles in Delray Beach and Dallas in that time.

A crucial factor behind the 24-year-old’s success has been his thunderous serve and powerful groundstrokes. Luckily, having joined TopCourt, the World No. 18 shares the key to his standout serve and brutal forehand with fans, while discussing how world-renowned coach Tom Gullickson helped his development.

Technique: Standing at 6’11”, Opelka possesses one of the biggest serves on Tour. The American shares the key aspects of his serve that will help you improve yours, discussing his grip change and more. The 24-year-old also shows fans the factors behind what makes his forehand such a powerful weapon.

Drills: In his TopCourt class, Opelka teaches three of his favourite drills that emphasise movement, shot placement, and on-court reaction. His ‘Catch and Release’ drill is one that will improve your movement, preparation and strength from the baseline, leading to more consistency and greater weight of shot.

Follow Opelka’s Tutorials at TopCourt.com.

Andrey Rublev is showing his mettle this week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The Russian bided his time after a fast start from Hubert Hurkacz in the semi-finals of the ATP 500 event on Friday, clinching a tense 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) victory over two hours, 23 minutes.

“I’m feeling super happy and super tired,” said Rublev, who is now one win from his fifth ATP 500 title. “I could not imagine that it would happen this week again, that I would be in a final, and I’m just happy.”

Marseille champion Rublev had already come from a set down to beat both Soonwoo Kwon and Mackenzie McDonald this week, and the Russian was forced to battle once again to reach his first final in Dubai. Having won the title last week in Marseille, Rublev admitted he was proud to reach another championship match despite the physical exertions of a busy schedule.

“I could not imagine how [Stefanos] Tsitsipas did it twice, because two years in a row he won the title in Marseille and [reached] the final in Dubai. I was thinking that was impossible to do, and somehow I did it this year. I still don’t know even myself how I did it, so let’s see what happens next.”

FOLLOW THIS WEEK’S ACTION

• TV Schedule
• Watch Live On Tennis TV
• Follow Live Scores On ATP Tour App

Rublev lost to eventual champion Aslan Karatsev in the semi-finals in 2021, and he looked to be falling at the same stage again as a strong serving performance from Hurkacz had the World No. 7 under pressure early on.

The Pole struck the ball ferociously to force the only break of the first set in the second game of the match, barely giving his opponent a look-in on his own serve as he fired 10 aces and lost just three points behind his first serve on his way to the set.

With Hurkacz in full flow the onus was on Rublev to find a way back into the match. The Russian dug deep to engineer a break point at 30/40 in the fourth game of the second set, but the Hurkacz serve proved up to the task once again, three huge consecutive deliveries emphatically dismissing the threat.

Rublev showed no signs of frustration as he continued to chip away as Hurkacz’s level marginally dropped deep in the second set. The Russian took his chance at the crucial moment by breaking for 7-5 to level the match with a forehand winner.

The momentum appeared to be with the Rublev in an engrossing final set. The Hurkacz serve was called into action again to fend off four break points in the fourth game, but despite errors from both players creeping in as the tension grew, the match came down to a deciding tie-break.

It was Rublev who held his nerve to secure the narrowest of victories, taking the only point of the tie-break to go against serve after Hurkacz missed a forehand before serving out victory. It marks the first time that World No. 11 Rublev has beaten Hurkacz at tour-level, and the win moves Rublev’s match record at ATP 500 events to an impressive 59-20.

He will now face either sixth seed Denis Shapovalov or Jiri Vesely in Saturday’s championship match, two left-handers enjoying strong runs in Dubai. The second seed is wary of the threat of both.

“Vesely is playing really great this week, he beat so many good players,” said Rublev. “Novak [Djokovic], [Roberto] Bautista Agut. These two players have huge respect on tour, and obviously Novak is No. 1., and he [Vesely] beat both of them, which means this week he’s played incredible tennis. Shapo [Shapovalov] is Shapo. I’ve played some tough matches against him and he’s an amazing player with great strokes, so we’ll see what’s going to happen.”

Rafael Nadal opened a second straight match with a bagel set, but was made to work for an Acapulco quarter-final victory over Tommy Paul. The 6-0, 7-6(5) win sets up a rematch with Daniil Medvedev after the Spaniard’s five-set Australian Open comeback earned him a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

For both men, the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC is their first event since Melbourne.

Against Paul on Thursday, Nadal dropped just 10 points in the opening set but met real resistance beyond that in hot and humid conditions. The fourth seed dictated early before the American began to use his athleticism to great effect, regularly getting the better of rallies in a second set that lasted over 90 minutes.

“I think I played one of the best sets since a long time ago,” Nadal said of the opener. “I played fantastic in the first set. In the beginning of the second I made a couple of mistakes, and then he started playing better and better. The set became a little bit crazy with a lot of breaks.”

With Paul up a break 2-1 in the second, a string of four games against serve kept the American out in front. The action heated up as Paul used a flamboyant volley finish on his way to a second break of the set. Nadal later answered with a hot shot of his own, firing a trademark on-the-run forehand pass, but it was not enough to prevent Paul from breaking again for 4-3.

Nadal broke for the sixth and final time in the match to stop his opponent from serving out the set, then saved two break points in a pair of lengthy rallies to edge ahead for the first time in the frame at 6-5. It was Paul’s turn to save two break points, which doubled as match points, in the 12th game.

Down 0-2 to start the tie-break, Nadal won four straight points to take a lead he would never relinquish.

13, and counting💪 @RafaelNadal improves to 13-0 on the season with a 6-0 7-6 victory over Tommy Paul at Acapulco. #AMT2022 pic.twitter.com/YIXfgAWTi0

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 25, 2022

Previewing the semi-final showdown against Medvedev, Nadal was full of praise for the soon-to-be World No. 1: “Everybody knows how difficult it is to play against Daniil. I know I have to play at my highest level if I want to have any chance, and that’s what I’m going to try. I have to play my game.

“Everybody knows how difficult the final was in Australia. Tomorrow is going to be another battle. I know he’s playing well, plenty of confidence… I am excited to play that match.”

Home favourite Hans Hach Verdugo and American John Isner won a second straight Match Tie-break to upset the top seeds in the Acapulco quarter-finals on Thursday.

The Mexican/American pairing upset Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, 5-7, 6-3, 10-5, to reach the last four at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. In the opening round, they saved a match point to edge Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk and Oscar Otte, 16-14 in a Match-Tiebreak.

Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara also advanced to the semis via a Match Tie-break, knocking out third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6.

Fourth seeds Putz/Venus survive in Dubai
Tim Puetz and Michael Venus also got through some late drama as they booked a semi-final spot at the Dubai Duty Free Championships. The German/Aussie pairing scored a 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 win against Andrey Golubev and Fabrice Martin.

They’ll face Austin Krajicek and Edouard Roger-Vasselin next, after the American/French duo beat Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, 6-4, 7-6(0).

Strong work from Santiago seeds
Both seeded teams in action at the Chile Dove+Men Care Open walked away as winners following a pair of close calls. In an all-Brazilian matchup, top seeds Rafael Matos and Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves were 7-6(2), 7-5 winners over Orlando Luz and Thiago Monteiro. 

Second seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Andre Goransson needed an extra frame to edge France’s Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul, 6-4, 6-7(4), 11-9.

In an all-Chilean battle Thursday in Santiago, Alejandro Tabilo upset top seed and defending champion Cristian Garin, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

It’s the second time the 24-year-old has knocked off a No. 1 seed during the Golden Swing in Latin America, a Cordoba victory over Diego Schwartzman sending him into his first career ATP Tour final earlier this month.

Against World No. 27 Garin at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open, Tabilo dropped the first two games of the match but then won five in succession to take control of the opening set. After breaking to love for 4-2, two love service holds sealed the set.

Both men saved break points early in the second, before Tabilo made the breakthrough — again to love — to edge in front. Quickly seizing his opportunity, he booked his quarter-final place with his fourth break of the match on a clever drop shot.

Look what it means 🤗

Alejandro Tabilo takes out defending champion Cristian Garin 6-3 6-3 at Santiago. #ChileDoveMenCareOpen pic.twitter.com/vMcn7lmdhc

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 25, 2022

Dominant on his first serve with a 79 per cent win rate (23/29), the Toronto-born Chilean feasted on a buffet of second-serve deliveries from his opponent. Tabilo won 70 per cent of those second-serve return points (16/23) as Garin made just more than half of his first serves.

Sixth seed Miomir Kecmanovic awaits in the last eight, after the Serb rolled to a 6-2, 6-0 win over Brazilian qualifier Matheus Pucinelli De Almeida.

Pedro Martinez, the Spanish fourth seed, won the only three-setter of the day, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, over countryman Jaume Munar. In a three-and-a-half hour match, Martinez saved a break point as he served out the match to reach his first ATP Tour quarter-final since October (Moscow).

Yannick Hanfmann will be his next opponent after the German powered past Brazilian wild card Thiago Seyboth Wild, 6-1, 6-3. It will be the 30-year-old’s first quarter-final since Bastad in July.

“I feel pretty comfortable. I was serving really well and also returning pretty good,” said the World No. 115, who entered the event with a protected ranking. “In these conditions it’s important to do the first strokes well: serve, return, first ball. I think all of these things I did really well. 

“Maybe he was a little bit uncomfortable with my aggressive game style, I don’t know. That’s where I shined in the altitude.”

On court for just over an hour, the German figures to be the fresher man on Friday, when all four Santiago quarter-finals are scheduled.

“I think the two hours that I missed [compared to Martinez’s match time], I will practise now, so that we’re even for tomorrow,” he joked.

Following Novak Djokovic’s loss to Jiri Vesely in Dubai, Daniil Medvedev is guaranteed to reach the top spot in the ATP Rankings on Monday. He will become the first man outside the “Big 4” to reach World No. 1 since Andy Roddick in 2004.

Following his quarter-final win in Acapulco Thursday, the Russian is two wins away from starting his reign in supreme style behind a 14th tour-level title.

Hours after his impending place atop the men’s game was confirmed, Medvedev masterminded a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

“It’s not easy to play a match when you get this news during the day,” said Medvedev, who did not know that Djokovic’s loss guaranteed him the top spot until he started receiving congratulatory messages. 

“The first goal for me was to still win today because I’m here to try to win every match I play. But it’s definitely some great news.”

The 26-year-old broke serve six times in the match but twice found himself behind in an eventful second set as Nishioka provided a stern test with his shot tolerance and elite speed.

Four straight games against serve saw Medvedev close out the opening set then fall behind 2-1 in the second. The Japanese pushed his lead to 3-1, but Medvedev rallied to win the final five games of the contest, winning points from all over the court with equal parts power, consistency and delicate touch.

While Nishioka threatened on the return and hit several passing shots as he rallied early in set two, he held serve just once in each frame as Medvedev’s return game dominated. The Russian won an incredible 70 per cent (19/27) of points against the Nishioka first serve in the one-hour, 10-minute contest.

“Yoshihito is a tough opponent. I think his weak point is his serve,” Medvedev assessed. “He knows how to return, how to run how to make some crazy shots when you don’t expect it.”

Continuing his fine form from the Australian Open, Medvedev has dropped just eight games in his past two matches, and 15 in total on the week.

Making his debut in Acapulco, he improves to 12-2 on the season and does his part to set up a blockbuster semi-final against Rafael Nadal — a rematch of their five-set Australian Open final. The Spaniard later confirmed that matchup with a 6-0, 7-6(5) win over Tommy Paul on Thursday night.

“If I play Rafa, it’s always special to play against him,” Medvedev said. “Kind of a chance to get my revenge.

“I have to learn from the best, which is him, Roger, Novak, Andy. Always when they were losing a tough fight, they were trying to get their revenge. Sometimes they managed to do it, sometimes not. That’s what I’m going to try to do if I play Rafa.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas followed Medvedev on the Acapulco stadium court, and continued his ruthless streak with a 6-3, 6-4 win over American Marcos Giron. After dropping just one game to J.J. Wolf in the second round, an aggressive Tsitsipas commanded the quarter-final match behind a pair of early breaks, one in each set.

That early damage proved enough for the Greek third seed, who saved four break points in a crucial seventh game of the opener. That was the only trouble he faced on serve in the one-hour, 20-minute match.

Tsitsipas used his all-court game to control the match, making an effort to finish points at the net with regularity.

“I was trying to open the court, trying to come in on the short balls,” he said of his tactics. “It was very good overall. I was able to come to the net and close a few at the net. It did help me a lot to to generate even more confidence, game after game. It paid off pretty well.”

Tsitsipas will challenge Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the semi-finals, after the sixth seed closed the Acapulco evening slate with a 6-1, 6-0 win Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk.

It’s noon in Acapulco and temperatures are soaring above 30 degrees Celsius. However, it is not enough to prevent Daniil Medvedev completing his first training session of the day. It does force him to take long breaks under a parasol though, and while he is still sweating off the exertion of his last rally, he picks up his mobile and stares at the screen. They are showing a Premier League match. Suddenly, he lets out a cry as someone scores a goal.

The Russian checks his phone every time he takes a break from training. And he will continue to do so throughout the day until he goes to bed. Why? Medvedev is an ardent Fantasy Premier League fan.

“Yeah, I really love it!” he said on Wednesday in Acapulco after reaching the quarter-finals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC. “I play with my friends, I try to follow matches, pick the best team, so I really enjoy it, you know?” 

Fantasy Premier League is a game in which users earn points if the players in their lineup play well each match day. Medvedev plays it for fun and to get away from the stress.

It may be quite useful to him this week as he is attracting plenty of attention as he prepares to take over as World No. 1, which he will do on Monday. Instead of worrying about the results of his friend Novak Djokovic in Dubai this week, Medvedev preferred to celebrate the points he earns in the Fantasy Premier League thanks to successful outings from Liverpool player Mohamed Salah, the captain of Daniil’s team.

“Sometimes I get angry when someone doesn’t score a penalty or something like that. But it’s fun. Really fun. Also, it makes me follow a sport I love, which is also great,” said last month’s Australian Open runner-up. 

“For example, today there were three matches, I watched them all, and ‘triple captained’ my captain Salah, so I was super, super happy,” he added with a grin. Thanks to the Egyptian player’s goals against Leeds, Medvedev’s points were tripled and he had two reasons to celebrate after beating Pablo Andujar.

Sometimes it seems that Daniil is immune to the pressure others might crumble under with the No. 1 spot at stake. When he arrived in Mexico on 16 February in the afternoon, he relaxed in his villa eating snacks while watching a Champions League match.

“I really like Mexican food so far. I don’t know what else to tell you… it’s just really, really good,” said the 13-time ATP Tour champion. The beaches of Acapulco were also very much to his liking; he has been there several times to swim and surf with his wife Daria.

Considering the importance of this week in terms of his ATP Ranking, when Medvedev arrives at the tournament venue to compete and train, he doesn’t look the slightest bit stressed and his feet are certainly very much on the ground. 

“I thought Daniil was someone who might think he was really special… because of his ranking and because he’s a possible No. 1 in the world. But after training I found him to be a very down-to-earth and humble person,” said Roberto Llamas, one of the five knock-up partners provided by the tournament.

Before his opener in Acapulco, Daniil practised for two hours with Mexican player Rodrigo Pacheco, the junior World No. 14 , and he took his role as a mentor very seriously. Giving advice to young talent has always been a strength of his. 

“Medvedev was very nice to me. He gave me advice and told me to keep working hard, and if I went to his academy we could train again,” said the 16-year-old left-hander, who played in the Acapulco qualifiers.

It’s not that Daniil doesn’t care about the ATP Rankings battle: “Being No. 1 is no longer a dream like it was when I was younger,” he said following his first-round victory. “Now it’s a goal, and I’m working even harder to achieve it.”