Russian Tennis Star Medvedev Claims Dubai Championship After Opponent’s Injury

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev secured his 23rd career title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships when his opponent withdrew due to injury. Meanwhile, Germany's Yannik Hanfmann reached his first ATP final in six years at the Chile Open.

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev claimed victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday after his opponent, Netherlands player Tallon Griekspoor, was unable to compete in the final due to a hamstring injury sustained in the United Arab Emirates tournament.

Griekspoor had battled through the injury during Friday’s semifinal match against Russian player Andrey Rublev, whom he beat in consecutive sets. Following that victory, Griekspoor revealed he would have withdrawn from the match had he lost the second set.

The championship marks Medvedev’s 23rd professional title and his second Dubai victory, having previously won there in 2023. This achievement represents the first time the third-seeded player has captured the same tournament twice in his career.

During his path to the final, Medvedev overcame top-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals without losing a single set throughout the entire tournament.

“Not how I want to win a final. Hoping the injury for (Griekspoor) is not too bad and wishing him a speedy recovery,” Medvedev posted on social media platform X.

At the BCI Seguros Chile Open in Santiago, German player Yannik Hanfmann pulled off a major upset by defeating tournament favorite Francisco Cerundolo 6-3, 6-4, earning his spot in his first ATP Tour championship match in six years.

The unseeded 34-year-old Hanfmann, whose previous final appearance came in September 2020, dominated with his serve, winning 79% of first-serve points while Cerundolo struggled with 27 unforced errors despite capturing the Buenos Aires championship just two weeks earlier.

Hanfmann’s final opponent will be Italy’s second-seeded Luciano Darderi, who defeated Argentina’s third-seeded Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-3 in a match lasting one hour and 29 minutes. Darderi successfully defended four of six break point opportunities while Baez converted three of seven chances, despite the defending 2024 champion recording more winners and fewer errors overall.