Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed his first ATP title in nearly a year on Saturday as he took control of his Dubai final, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3.

It was third time lucky in a final at the Aviation Club for the fourth seed, who finished runner-up here in 2019 against Roger Federer and was unable to get past Novak Djokovic in the final a year later at his last appearance here.

The Greek who will return to the ranking top 10 as a result of his success in the emirate, last lifted a trophy in April when he won his third at the Monte Carlo Masters.

The victory in 88 minutes was the 13th of his career and his first at the 500 level on the Tour. he delivered an ace down the middle on the first of three match point

“This was pure fighting and me trying my best to avoid losing a third final here,” the winner said. “It was nerve-wracking against a difficult opponent.

“I’m proud how I handled the pressure and performed in the crucial moment. I’ve been working hard for a long time (on my game).

“I’m glad (the win) happened here in Dubai; my game clicked and things worked well from the beginning.”

Tsitsipas saved four break points and caught his opponent’s serve twice as he won the opening set against the Canadian who already owns two titles this season at Adelaide and Montpellier.

The Greek continued his winning momentum in the second, adding another break of serve as he finished on his first of three match points.

Tsitsipas ended with 16 winners while saving all seven break points he faced with first serves.

“It’s a big relief to hold this trophy for the third time,” Tsitsipas said. “It was in the back of my mind not to lose again.

“I’m back in the top 10 – that’s what we players fight for. It’s definitely one of the greatest feelings. I’m very happy to be in a winning position, I’m ready to celebrate.”

Tsitsipas beat FAA for the seventh time in 10 matches as the pair head to next week’s start halfway around the world at the Indian Wells Masters in California.

Main photo:- Stefanos Tsitsipas with Dubai winners trophy – by ATPTour.com

Felix Auger-Aliassime utilised his reservoir of confidence to stage a fightback over Nuno Borges to book the quarter-finals of the ATP Dubai event on Wednesday.

The unseeded Canadian pulled off a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory in just under two and a half hours as he overcame his Portuguese opponent.

FAA won his 14th match of the season, which leads the ATP.

The 21st-ranked winner of two titles already this season (Adelaide, Montpellier) said growing confidence helped him through into the last eight at the Aviation Club.

“(The wins) help, I’ve been facing some very tight situations over the last weeks and months,” the winner said.

“It helps you keep your cool, keep trusting yourself. he played great and was causing me a lot of trouble. 

“In the first and third sets his level was really high. It helped to have a few wins behind me.”

The Canadian broke open the deciding set with a break in the fifth game and held the margin out to the second-round victory.

He will now test himself against Croat Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open winner on the comeback from a knee injury who defeated Alexei Popyrin in a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4  comeback effort.

“I’m happy with the work that I’ve done,” the Canadian said. “I’ve had a good start to the year.

“I would have traded some of those wins for a deeper run at the Australian Open (he lost in the second round). But my time will come.”

Local Thanasi Kokkinakis disappointed fans at the Adelaide International on Thursday as a previous injury flared, forcing the Aussie to default a hometown quarter-final.

The No. 77 whose entire career has been blighted by physical problems, did not specify exactly what the trouble was as he addressed a showcourt crowd at Memorial Drive to deliver the bad news.

Kokkinakis had been scheduled to face American Sebastian Korda, who now advances to the final four.

“Massive apologies, there is nowhere else I’d rather be playing,” the 38-year-old said.

“I (played through) a lot of pain last night (defeat of Tomas Martin Etcheverry) and the injury just crept up on me.

“It was worse this morning and I’m very flat about that. I’m already looking forward to next year here.”

The Australian was drawn on Thursday to begin in the Open first round against Roman Safiullin.

“I’ll try and be ready for next week,” Kokkinakis said. “It’s pretty disheaartening and flattening not to be able to come out (and play) tonight.”