Felix Auger-Aliassime, the top seed at the ATP 500 event in Dubai, had to dig deep before overcoming Zhang Zhizhen in the first round. Despite having six match points, the Canadian finally clinched a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory. Auger-Aliassime admitted that he lost count of the match points, as the frustration built up. "Having match points is the position you want to be in as a player, but it's weird how the mind plays a trick on you," Auger-Aliassime said. "It's much further for me from losing than it is for him, but somehow he should be the one who's feeling more pressure."

This win marks another strong start for Auger-Aliassime in his season, as he reached the final in Montpellier earlier and then lost in the final at Rotterdam. In Dubai, he now looks to keep up the momentum as he prepares to face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the second round. Perricard also had a close call, winning in three tight sets, including two tie-breaks, with a serve performance that included 29 aces.

Swiss tennis legend Stan Wawrinka continued his farewell tour, defeating Benjamin Hassan 7-5, 6-3. With Swiss compatriot Roger Federer in attendance, it was a poignant moment for Wawrinka, who claimed his 10th tour-level win since turning 40, setting a new record for the Open Era. Wawrinka's emotional journey continues as he aims for further success in what is expected to be his final season on tour. With more exciting matchups ahead in the Dubai ATP 500, Auger-Aliassime and Wawrinka’s performances have been the highlights so far, offering plenty of drama and high-level tennis for fans to enjoy.