Félix Auger-Aliassime lost to Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 2-6, in the semi-final of the 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships.
The number one seed was well below his best against the former US Open champion, who put in an impressive performance.
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Felix seemed to be struggling physically at times, especially after a few longer exchanges. This is not the first time recently that he has failed against a top player. He achieved a similar result in Rotterdam, where he fell to Alex de Minaur.
With back-to-back losses behind him, there are real questions about whether he’s ready for an extended run.
Félix Auger-Aliassime has not yet reached the predicted heights
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Auger-Aliassime had a strong finish to the 2025 season, reaching the semi-finals of the US Open before making deep runs at the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals.
Starting this year, there was hope that he could break Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s hold on the top of men’s tennis.
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But two months into 2026, that hasn’t happened. He has failed to achieve a resounding victory so far this season.
The 25-year-old has just one double against top 15 players this year.
If he wants to push Alcaraz and Sinner towards Grand Slams and the top ranking, that record needs to improve.
Right now, Auger-Aliassime is playing like a solid top-10 player, nothing more. This isn’t necessarily a blow; Being in the top 10 is a serious achievement. But with his talent, it is expected that he can offer more than what we have seen so far in 2026.
What’s next for Félix Auger-Aliassime after the disappointment in Dubai?
Auger-Aliassime now heads to the United States for back-to-back Masters 1000 tournaments: Indian Wells and Miami Open.
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He has a .500 record at Indian Wells through 14 games, but will look to build some momentum this time around.
His best run in California came three years ago when he reached the quarterfinals, beating Pedro Martinez, Francisco Cerundolo and Tommy Paul before losing to Alcaraz in straight sets.
It was Alcaraz again who knocked him out a year later, followed by a second-round loss to Jenson Brooksby in his final appearance.
He will be looking for a much better performance this time around.
Before the main action begins, he will have the opportunity to relax and have fun. Auger-Aliassime is expected to compete in the “Tiebreak Tens” mixed doubles event alongside compatriot Leylah Fernandez.
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The event features several notable duos, including Iga Swiatek/Casper Ruud, Elena Rybakina/Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula/Tommy Paul. Matches are played in the form of ten-point tie-breaks.
Rybakina and Fritz won last year’s title, sharing $200,000. Will Auger-Aliassime and Fernandez be able to win this time? We will know soon.
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