Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Dubai match.
Quentin Halys has caused a major upset at this tournament, taking down Andrey Rublev, Roberto Bautista Agut, and the rising talent, Luca Nardi. However, he now faces Félix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-final, a player who has made a strong start to the season and is eyeing a return to the ATP top-20.
Quentin Halys
Halys has been playing some top-tier tennis, but the physical toll of his victories cannot be ignored. Wins over Luca Nardi (2:6, 6:3, 7:6) and Roberto Bautista Agut (7:6, 6:4) were hard-fought, and the Frenchman has excelled in tiebreaks, winning five in a row. However, fatigue is beginning to show in his movement, and historically, Halys has struggled against top-30 players, winning just 3 out of his last 15 matches against them.
Félix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime has faced three tough three-set matches in this tournament but looks fresher than his opponent. The Canadian has been in solid form this season, winning two ATP 250 titles in Montpellier and Auckland. However, his matches rarely end in straight sets—12 of his last 16 have gone to three sets. This season, he has already played 54 sets in 19 matches. Auger-Aliassime leads their head-to-head 2-0, with their most recent encounter being a tightly contested three-set battle (4:6, 6:4, 7:6).
Quentin Halys vs Félix Auger-Aliassime Prediction
Physical condition will be a key factor in this matchup. Halys has played many challenging matches and is unlikely to handle another three-set battle. Auger-Aliassime, though also involved in long matches, appears the fresher of the two and has been playing at a higher level. We’re backing the Canadian to win with a small handicap.
