Roger Federer looks to catch his 100th ATP Tour title at the Dubai Open on Saturday March 2nd, when the world no. 7 matches rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Federer is a heavy favorite over the young Greek celebrity, however came out on the losing side of their last head-to-head matchup.Federer last won in Dubai at 2015, which was his seventh time winning in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Since the Australian Open, the 37-year-old has had a program leading up with not played in a championship since. The rest has proved rewarding as he has had a comparatively straightforward route to the finals.In fact, he has actually been progressing since the championship wears on. Federer advanced through the first two rounds with three-set wins over Fernando Verdasco and Philipp Kohlschreiber.
From the quarter-finals, despite a near first set with M??rton Fucsovics, he prevailed 7-6 (8-6) 6-4. He made quick work of world no. 13 Borna ??ori?? from the semi-finals by winning 6-2 6-2.
A win on Saturday would give both eight titles in Dubai to Federer and also a 100th career ATP Tour title triumph.
While I saw a easy path for Federer to achieve the Dubai Open finals when the lure was made, I was uncertain just how much Tsitsipas would have abandoned after claiming the name in Marseille last Sunday. He won all four matches from France in straight sets.
Tsitsipas has never dropped though this week after the triumph, finding himself at the Dubai Open Finals after defeating the 23rd ranked Gael Monfils 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(4).When he faces Tsitsipas on Saturday, a win could give him both eight names in Dubai and a 100th career ATP Tour title win.His route to the finals hasn’t been the hardest though when you consider his competitors were: Matthew Ebden (47th), Egor Gerasimov (155th), along with Hubert Hurkacz (77th) throughout the opening three rounds.
Tsitsipas has his sights on a top 10 placing following this tournament the result on Saturday in the ATP rankings.
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