The Baseline
The Daily Newsletter for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Under the Patronage of H.h. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai
Daily newsletter for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships | Wednesday, 25 February 2026
Race to Eight
Round of 16 takes place today with four former Dubai champions and two defeated finalists among those in action across Centre Court and New Court 1.
What’s On Today:
Score Center: Order of Play | Live Scores | Latest Results | Draws
Order of Play | Wednesday, 25 February
Centre Court – start 2:00 PM
[3] D. Medvedev vs [WC] S. Wawrinka (SUI)
Not Before 4:00 PM
[1] F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) vs [Q] G. Mpetshi Perricard (FRA)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[5] A. Rublev vs U. Humbert (FRA)
Followed By
A. Rinderknech (FRA) vs [4] J. Draper (GBR)
New Court 1 – start 2:00 PM
J. Brooksby (USA) vs [7] K. Khachanov
[Q] P. Carreño Busta (ESP) vs [8] J. Lehecka (CZE)
T. Griekspoor (NED) vs [2] A. Bublik (KAZ)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[6] J. Mensik (CZE) vs A. Popyrin (AUS)
Court 2 – start 2:00 PM
[1] J. Cash (GBR) / L. Glasspool (GBR) vs A. Pavlasek (CZE) / J.P. Smith (AUS)
[Q] J. Nedunchezhiyan (IND) / R. Ramanathan (IND) vs T. Arribage (FRA) / A. Olivetti (FRA)
F. Cabral (POR) / L. Miedler (AUT) vs [2] M. Arevalo (ESA) / M. Pavic (CRO)
Followed By
After suitable rest – [3] H. Heliovaara (FIN) / H. Patten (GBR) vs A. Bublik (KAZ) / J. Shang (CHN)
Whose Fate is Last-Eight?
The 2023 Dubai champion Daniil Medvedev opens play today on Centre Court against three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka. Medvedev made an impressive start yesterday, defeating Shang Juncheng.
Also on the main stage. top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime—defeated finalist here last year—takes on Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while a battle of former champions sees 2024 winner Ugo Humbert face 2022 champ Andrey Rublev. Frenchman Humbert has already beaten one Dubai champion after dethroning Stefanos Tsitsipas last night. British Nol Jack Draper, having earlier this week made his return after eight months out, will close the night session again, this time against World No31 Arthur Rinderknech.
Elsewhere. Karen Khachanov takes on the USA’s Jenson Brooksby, Jiri Lehecka goes head-to-head with Spanish qualifier Pablo Carreño Busta. 2024 finalist Alexander Bublik faces Tallon Griekspoor, and Jakub Mensik meets Alexei Popyrin, who started his career in tennis as a ballboy at this very tournament.
Champions Embrace the Spirit of Ramadan
On the sidelines of this week’s ATP 500 tournament, former champions Stefanos Tsitsipas and Stan Wawrinka came together for a special Iftar in Dubai, immersing themselves in local traditions and the spirit of Ramadan.
Reflecting on the occasion. three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka spoke about the value of embracing cultures beyond the court. “We’re very grateful to be invited to share this moment, especially with family. It’s about sharing cultures. and that’s one of the beautiful things about tennis,” he said.
Tsitsipas, the 2025 Dubai champion, was joined by his parents for the gathering. Dressed in traditional Emirati clothing for the occasion, he described the evening as something personal and familiar, having previously embraced the same tradition at a players’· event in Dubai.
Watch: Shared table, shared traditions: Tsitsipas and Wawrinka experience Ramadan hospitality in Dubai
Tournament Trivia driven by Mercedes-Benz
See answers below
Shang Lets Loose
Ahead of the tournament in Dubai, China’s Shang Juncheng stepped away from the practice courts to try out the Smash Room truck inside the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships’ village.
The 21-year-old took a short break from his usual training routine to experience something different before his opening-round meeting with Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships winner.
“It was a really fun experience,” said Shang. “You don’t get to do something like this very often, so it was great to try it out. It helps release energy and clear your head before going on court.”
Trivia Answers:
