Canada's Auger-Aliassime beats Cilic to reach semifinal at Dubai Tennis Championships
Montreal native to face Frenchman Quentin Halys after beating him last week in Qatar
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime rallied past Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Auger-Aliassime fired 13 aces to Cilic's three and broke the Croatian three times on 10 chances.
The world No. 21 improved his career record against the 186th-ranked Cilic to 2-3, securing his third straight three-set victory in Dubai.
Auger-Aliassime will meet France's Quentin Halys in the semifinal. The Canadian defeated Halys 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) last week in the first round of the Qatar Open.
The 24-year-old Auger-Aliassime is seeking his third ATP title of the season after winning last month in Adelaide, Australia, and Montpellier, France.
🇨🇦 Felix Auger-Aliassime collects his tour leading 15th win of 2025, beating 🇭🇷 Marin Cilic 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DDFTennis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DDFTennis</a> <br><br>FAA is now 8-1 in three setters this season and currently third in the ATP race!<br><br>Awesome year so far. <a href="https://t.co/03fTKtU9LM">pic.twitter.com/03fTKtU9LM</a>
—@BenLewisMPCGriekspoor downs top seed Medvedev
Tallon Griekspoor saved four match points before beating top-seeded Daniil Medvedev 2-6, 7-6 (7), 7-5 to reach the semifinals.
"When I won the second set, I was actually thinking 'How am I even still in this tournament?' I probably should have been on the plane to Indian Wells already," said the Dutchman, ranked No. 47. "Sometimes you've got to be a little bit lucky."
Griekspoor had survived a first-round encounter with Roman Safiullin by saving three match points. He then eliminated defending champion Ugo Humbert on Wednesday.
"It's my best win by ranking," Griekspoor said after his quarterfinal victory over No. 6 Medvedev. "Just very pleased with this win. It means a lot."
Griekspoor will meet fourth-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas for a shot at the title. Tsitsipas beat Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4.
