Stefanos Tsitsipas Defeats Holger Rune 7-6, 6-4 to Reach Dubai Semi-Finals

Stefanos Tsitsipas produced a composed performance on Monday to defeat Holger Rune 7-6(4), 6-4 and advance to the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.

The Greek fourth seed was forced to work hard for his victory against the talented Danish player, saving five break points in the opening set before taking control in the tiebreak. Tsitsipas' experience and court craft proved decisive in the crucial moments, as he maintained his aggressive baseline style while minimizing unforced errors.

"Holger is always a tough opponent, especially on hard courts," Tsitsipas said after the match. "I had to stay patient and wait for my opportunities. The key was staying aggressive with my forehand and serving well in the important moments. I'm happy to be back in the semi-finals here in Dubai."

The match began with both players holding serve comfortably, but Rune began to find his rhythm in the middle stages of the first set, creating multiple break point opportunities with his powerful groundstrokes. Tsitsipas showed excellent defensive skills to save these chances before dominating the tiebreak with consistent shot-making and placement.

The second set followed a similar pattern until Tsitsipas secured the crucial break at 3-2, capitalizing on a rare defensive lapse from Rune to take control of the match. The 25-year-old Greek player served out the victory with confidence, striking his 23rd winner of the match to seal his place in the last four.

Tsitsipas will face either Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev in Wednesday's semi-final, setting up what promises to be a high-quality encounter. His victory continues a strong start to the 2026 season and demonstrates his continued evolution as a player capable of competing with the world's best on any surface. The Athens native appears to be finding his best form at the perfect time as the season's biggest tournaments approach.