• If Roger Federer wins the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title on Saturday it will also be his 100th ATP Tour singles title. Getty
    If Roger Federer wins the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title on Saturday it will also be his 100th ATP Tour singles title. Getty
  • Federer unleashes a serve. AFP
    Federer unleashes a serve. AFP
  • Borna Coric did not have much to cheer for during the match. Reuters
    Borna Coric did not have much to cheer for during the match. Reuters
  • Federer is targeting an eighth Dubai title on Saturday after his semi-final win. Reuters
    Federer is targeting an eighth Dubai title on Saturday after his semi-final win. Reuters
  • Federer unleashes a shot from the back of the court. EPA
    Federer unleashes a shot from the back of the court. EPA
  • Federer acknowledges the crowd after his victory. AFP
    Federer acknowledges the crowd after his victory. AFP
  • Coric only won four games in the match. AFP
    Coric only won four games in the match. AFP
  • Federer had lost his previous two matches with Coric but was dominant this time around. Getty
    Federer had lost his previous two matches with Coric but was dominant this time around. Getty
  • A view of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Reuters
    A view of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Reuters
  • Federer took just 68 minutes to win the semi-final. AFP
    Federer took just 68 minutes to win the semi-final. AFP

Dubai Tennis Final: Roger Federer v Stefanos Tsitsipas - all you need to know


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  • Arabic

It is the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday night.

Here is a rundown of everything you need to know about the tournament decider.

The finalists

It is No 2 seed Roger Federer against No 5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

When the action is happening

The match is due to start at 7pm and will be on Centre Court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium. Tickets are sold out for the event.

Roger Federer's route to the final

1st round v Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1

2nd round v Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

Quarter-finals v Marton Fucsovics 7-6, 6-4

Semi-finals v (6) Borna Coric 6-2, 6-2

  • Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his win. Reuters
    Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his win. Reuters
  • Gael Monfils acknowledges the crowd in defeat. EPA
    Gael Monfils acknowledges the crowd in defeat. EPA
  • Monfils plays a shot from the back of the court. Reuters
    Monfils plays a shot from the back of the court. Reuters
  • Tsitsipas serves during the match. AFP
    Tsitsipas serves during the match. AFP
  • Monfils covered a lot of ground from the back of the court. Reuters
    Monfils covered a lot of ground from the back of the court. Reuters
  • Tsitsipas and Monfils chat at the net after the match. Reuters
    Tsitsipas and Monfils chat at the net after the match. Reuters
  • Tsitsipas throws his sweatband to the crowd post-match. Reuters
    Tsitsipas throws his sweatband to the crowd post-match. Reuters
  • Tsitsipas celebrates his win. Reuters
    Tsitsipas celebrates his win. Reuters
  • Tsitsipas will now be in the top 10 ATP rankings for the first time in his career next week. EPA
    Tsitsipas will now be in the top 10 ATP rankings for the first time in his career next week. EPA
  • Monfils keeps his eyes on the ball. Reuters
    Monfils keeps his eyes on the ball. Reuters
  • Tsitsipas stretches for a shot. Reuters
    Tsitsipas stretches for a shot. Reuters
  • Monfils goes for a shot at the net. EPA
    Monfils goes for a shot at the net. EPA

Stefanos Tsitsipas' route to the final

1st round v Matthew Ebden 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

2nd round v Egor Gerasimov 6-3, 6-1

Quarter-finals v Hubert Hurkacz 7-6, 6-7, 6-1

Semi-finals v Gael Monfils 4-6, 7-6, 7-6

What is at stake

If Federer wins not only does he claim an eighth Dubai crown, it will also be his 100th career ATP Tour singles title, making him only the second man, after Jimmy Connors, to reach three figures for tournament victories in the open era of the sport, which dates back to 1968.

Tsitsipas has already achieved one major goal this week. The world No 11 will move into the top 10 for the first time in his career on Monday when the new ATP rankings are published. His semi-final win over Gael Monfils assured him of that.

Victory in Dubai would give him his third career title. It would also be two in less then a week, having won the Marseille Open last Sunday.

Past meetings

The pair have only met once previously, in the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.

Famously Tsitsipas came from a set down to beat Federer, the defending champion at the event, 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 7-6.

What they said

Federer: "Obviously I was horribly disappointed (by the Australian Open loss) and upset that I missed as many breakpoints as I did, had all the opportunities I had. That match kind of hurt in some ways. But, you know, it's part of the game. He did very well to get out of those tricky situations.

"Again, he did the same again tonight against Monfils. He gets it done that way. It's not the classic one dimensional way. He has many ways to do it. That makes him tough to play, tough to beat. He showed me that at the Australian Open, how hard he is."

Tsitsipas:  "I'm sure he will be pumped up. It's not easy. It's not easy for both of us. He obviously wants to beat me. For him, that loss was a big thing. I'm pretty sure he will come - if he wins, whoever wins - inside the court fired up, wanting to take a revenge from me. I'm definitely expecting that."