Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime maintained his impressive momentum Thursday, defeating Czech player Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (2) to secure his spot in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinals in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament’s top seed has now captured victory in 11 of his 12 matches this month while pursuing his third consecutive tournament final appearance. The Canadian player aims to surpass his 2025 performance in Dubai, where he was defeated in the title match.
Thursday’s match saw Auger-Aliassime dominate the service game, delivering 16 aces compared to Lehecka’s seven. The Czech competitor failed to break his opponent’s serve throughout the entire contest.
Auger-Aliassime will face Russia’s third-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals after Medvedev overwhelmed American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-1 in his quarterfinal match.
The tournament’s second semifinal will pit Russia’s fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev against Netherlands player Tallon Griekspoor. Rublev defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 6-4, while Griekspoor eliminated sixth-seeded Czech player Jakub Mensik 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
BCI Seguros Chile Open
Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, the third seed and three-time tournament finalist in Santiago, Chile, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Chilean player Cristian Garin 7-6 (2), 1-6, 7-5.
The Argentine claimed the Santiago championship in 2024 but suffered final defeats in both 2022 and 2025. Thursday’s victory came largely through his defensive prowess, successfully defending seven of Garin’s eight break point opportunities.
Fellow Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, the tournament’s top seed, easily dispatched Denmark’s Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-2. Chile’s eighth-seeded Alejandro Tabilo rallied to defeat Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, while American Emilio Nava overcame Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 7-5, 6-3.
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Italy’s fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli survived a challenging first set against Chinese qualifier Yibing Wu, ultimately prevailing 7-6 (4), 6-1 in Acapulco, Mexico’s quarterfinal round.
Cobolli demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, successfully saving all eight of Wu’s break point attempts, including two that could have claimed the opening set and two additional opportunities in the match’s closing game.
American Frances Tiafoe, seeded eighth, progressed past Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, while Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic eliminated France’s Terence Atmane 6-3, 6-3. The evening’s final contest featured Monaco’s sixth-seeded Valentin Vacherot against American Brandon Nakashima.
