Felix Auger-Aliassime’s hot start to the 2026 season came to an end last week when he lost to Alex de Minaur in the Rotterdam Open final.
After capturing his first title of the year in Montpellier, Auger-Aliassime was the favourite heading into the Rotterdam event.
However, after defeating Alexei Popyrin, Hamad Medjedovic, Tallon Griekspoor and Alexander Bublik, Auger-Aliassime was beaten 3-6, 2-6 by Alex de Minaur in the showpiece match.
How would you rate Felix Auger-Aliassime’s chances of winning a Grand Slam in 2026?
Auger-Aliassime will be looking to bounce back in Dubai, where he is the top seed and favourite for the title.
Following the draw being made, the Canadian’s chances of winning the title have increased.
Felix Auger-Aliassime’s positive Dubai draw
In the Dubai Championships first round, Auger-Aliassime has been drawn against world number 319 Zhizhen Zhang, who has entered the tournament using his protected ranking.
Zhang, the former world number 31, saw his ranking fall after a shoulder injury kept him from competing for six months.
If Auger-Aliassime advances past Zhang, he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or wildcard entry Moez Echargui: the world number 139.
While Mpetshi Perricard [pictured below] represents a threat to Auger-Aliassime’s title hopes, the Frenchman has endured a difficult start to the 2026 season and is yet to win a main-draw singles match on the ATP Tour.
From there, the Canadian will likely face Denis Shapovalov or Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals.
Shapovalov will face Pablo Carreno Busta in round one following Tomas Machac’s withdrawal, while Jiri Lehecka will hope to avenge his recent loss to Arthur Fils in Qatar when the pair contest their first-round match in Dubai.
A potential clash with Daniil Medvedev awaits Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals, before a possible meeting with Alexander Bublik in the final.
- Felix Auger-Aliassime’s potential Dubai run – Round One: Zhizhen Zhang
- Round Two: Moez Echargui / qualifier
- Quarter-finals: Jiri Lehecka / Arthur Fils / Denis Shapovalov
- Semi-finals: Karen Khachanov / Daniil Medvedev / Stan Wawrinka
- Final: Alexander Bublik / Jakub Mensik / Jack Draper
Auger-Aliassime’s reaction after losing the 2025 Dubai final
At the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, Auger-Aliassime defeated Alexander Bublik and Marin Cilic on his way to the final, before losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
After the 3-6, 3-6 loss, the Canadian expressed his displeasure.
When asked if playing a three-set match played a role in the result, Auger-Aliassime said: “Not really. I felt good physically, to be honest. Even now, I felt like I still have more to give. It sucks. It doesn’t feel great that I’m outside the court.
“I didn’t have the level that he had today. Even though I had a lot of chances, I had my chances, I played some good points, but I wasn’t good enough on my serve. That was the big problem today.
If you were in charge of tennis, what is the first rule you would change?
“I was giving myself a lot of looks when I was returning from the beginning. But then two loose games like I did in the first set on my serve, 40-Love. Even in the second…
“I have to give him [Tsitsipas] some credit. He’s been returning better. I’ve never seen him return like this from the backhand that deep, that fast. Have to give him some credit, for sure.
“But on my part, I thought it was going to be a little bit better than that.”
