Medvedev hits a date with the 'defending champions' in the final of the 31st edition

Djokovic's sixth star in «Tennis Dubai» evaporates

Russian Medvedev returns a powerful ball to the court of world number one Djokovic. Cinematographer: Patrick Castillo

Russian world number seven Daniel Medvedev put an end to the ambitions of Serbian world number one Novak Djokovic, and steamed his sixth star in the men's "Dubai Tennis", after Medvedev won two sets without a response (6-4 and 6-4), yesterday, in the semi-finals of the 31st edition of the tournament held since February 26 at the courts of «Dubai Duty Free» in Al Garhoud area in Dubai, and the curtain falls today, with a total prize pool of $ 2.9 million.

Medvedev hit a date at seven in the evening in the final match with last year's defending champion and Russian compatriot Andrei Rublev, ranked sixth in the world, after the latter beat the German in two clean sets (6-3 and 7-6).

Djokovic, who recently returned from injury, failed to lift the Dubai Tennis Cup for the sixth time in his career, after being crowned in (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2020), while the record for the Dubai Championship is still held in the name of Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer, who won eight titles, which Roger achieved in (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2019).

Medvedev needed an hour and 36 minutes to eliminate world number one Djokovic, after a first set during which Medvedev succeeded in breaking the Serbian rival's serve early before resolving the set (6-4) in 40 minutes, and the Russian can repeat the same scenario in the second set by winning its score (6-4), but in 56 minutes.

In turn, defending champion Rublev is one step away from retaining the title, and showed strong levels towards beating his German rival Zverev in two hours and one minute, after a relatively easy first set for the Russian limited to 48 minutes to win (6-3), before Rublev faced fierce resistance from Zverev in the second set, which extended to the tie-breaker and through which the Russian knew how to resolve this set and grab the set by (7-6) in an hour and 13 minutes.

Coincidence leads Uzbek referee to Dubai Tennis for 24th consecutive year

A quarter of a century ago, a coincidence led Uzbek referee Alexander Bagdasarov (51 years old) to join the teams of referees of the Dubai Men's Tennis Championship, before continuing in 2023 his association with the tournament, and coming for the 24th consecutive year from Tashkent to Dubai, to assume the duties of the line referee in the tournament beloved by his heart, according to his description, which celebrated last Sunday the launch of its 31st edition, held so far at the courts of «Dubai Duty Free» in the Garhoud area, with a total prize money of $ 2.9 million.

Alexander told Emirates Today: "I received an invitation from someone I do not know before to run and participate in the refereeing lists of the (Dubai Tennis) Men's Championship, to push me to take on a new challenge in my career to submit the application officially, and later I get the approval that led me to come from Tashkent on a first trip to Dubai, and join the crews of judges of the 2000 edition, in a trip that paved the way for continuing my association with this tournament over the past years, and repeating the same task annually by coming from the Uzbek capital to (Dana). Al Dunya Dubai) specifically to take over the duties of the line referee in the matches of this tournament that I love my heart." He explained: «The general referee of the (Dubai Tennis) Hani Al-Khafif, who I did not know before, sent letters addressed to all parts of the world, to nominate the names of highly qualified referees to manage the matches of the tournament, which succeeded since its inception in attracting the interest of the biggest names of yellow ball stars globally, which encouraged me not to hesitate, and fill out the form and send it to Dubai, before my request was approved, in a step that allowed me to move to new challenges. He added: «I got great hospitality and support, especially from the director of the (Dubai Tennis) tournaments, Salah Tahlak, and the general referee Hani Al-Khafif, which is one of the well-known features of the people of the Emirates, citizens and residents, to become (Dubai Tennis) despite my responsibilities in the Tennis Federation in my country, one of the most important tournaments on my annual schedule, and I am keen to be among its refereeing cadres.