Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Dubai match.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov will face off in the match of the ATP tournament in Dubai. Their most recent encounter on outdoor hard courts saw the Russian claim victory in Miami, but the head-to-head record strongly favours Stefanos Tsitsipas (8:1). Historically, Karen has struggled in Dubai, whereas Stefanos has consistently performed well, often progressing to the latter stages of the tournament.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas has an impressive track record in Dubai, having reached the final twice. The Greek has demonstrated strong form at this tournament, winning 11 of his last 14 matches. In his opening match, he defeated Lorenzo Sonego (7:6, 6:3), winning 81% of points on his first serve. Moreover, Tsitsipas dominates the head-to-head against Khachanov, with eight victories in nine encounters, including three of four on outdoor hard courts.
Karen Khachanov
Khachanov is making his ninth appearance in Dubai, but past results suggest that this tournament has not been a favourable venue for him. He has only progressed beyond the second round once, losing in the first or second round seven times. In his opening match against Daniel Evans, Khachanov recorded just 55% on his first serve and largely benefited from his opponent’s errors. Furthermore, since early 2024, he has lost eight of his last ten matches against top-20 opponents.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Karen Khachanov Prediction
Stefanos Tsitsipas maintains a dominant record against Karen Khachanov, and his aggressive playing style combined with a reliable serve should be well-suited to Dubai’s quick conditions. Given Karen Khachanov’s recurring struggles in the United Arab Emirates, we predict that Stefanos Tsitsipas will win.
