Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev Advance at Dubai Championships

By Eppe Franklyne

• Felix Auger-Aliassime reaches quarterfinals with straight-sets win
• Daniil Medvedev ends Stan Wawrinka’s farewell run
• Other notable wins include Jiri Lehecka, Arthur Rinderknech, and Tallon Griekspoor

Canadian top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime booked his spot in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Wednesday. Auger-Aliassime converted three of five break points and secured crucial breaks in the seventh and ninth games of the opening set to seize control. He will face Czech Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev ended 40-year-old Swiss former Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka’s tournament with a 6-2, 6-3 win. Wawrinka, who will retire at the end of the season, was honoured on court for his contributions to the sport. Medvedev will meet Jenson Brooksby next after the American beat Russia’s Karen Khachanov in straight sets.

Other results saw Britain’s Jack Draper fall to Arthur Rinderknech 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, and Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik lose 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who will next face Jakub Mensik after the Czech sixth seed defeated Alexei Popyrin.