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Daniil Medvedev Claims Dubai Title Following Griekspoor's Withdrawal
2/28/2026, 8:13:56 PM
Injury Forces Withdrawal from Final
Daniil Medvedev secured his 23rd ATP singles title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday, as Tallon Griekspoor withdrew from the final due to a left hamstring injury. Griekspoor sustained the injury during his semi-final match against Andrey Rublev, where he managed to win in straight sets despite landing awkwardly after a serve. However, he was unable to recover in time for the championship match, resulting in a walkover.
During the trophy ceremony, Griekspoor expressed his disappointment, stating, "I have been better, that's for sure. I went to the hospital this morning and had a couple of scans, which showed something serious. It kept me from coming on court tonight and will keep me from the court in the coming weeks."
Medvedev's Achievement
This victory marks Medvedev's second title of the 2026 season, following his win in Brisbane earlier in January. Notably, it is also the first time the 30-year-old has won the same event twice, having previously triumphed in Dubai in 2023. Medvedev remarked on the significance of this achievement, saying, "That's what is crazy about it. I never did it in any city in the world and the first time I do it, it's (via) a walkover."
With this title, Medvedev ties World No. 2 Jannik Sinner for the second-most hard-court titles among active players, trailing only Novak Djokovic. Currently ranked No. 11 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Medvedev is just 45 points behind No. 10 Alexander Bublik as he aims to return to the Top 10 for the first time since June of the previous year.
Griekspoor's Journey
Prior to his injury, Griekspoor was seeking the fourth ATP Tour title of his career and had notable victories over Top 20 players, including Bublik and Rublev, during the tournament. His only previous meeting with Medvedev occurred in Dubai last year, where he famously saved four match points en route to the semi-finals.
Looking Ahead
Medvedev's next competition will be at the ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, where he has previously reached the finals twice. As he continues his season, he holds a 13-3 record in 2026, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
