Tsitsipas starts with a win at his lucky venue

Stefanos Tsitsipas began his campaign with a win at the ATP Dubai event on Monday, boosted by back-to-back finals at the Gulf venue in 2019-2020.

The No. 11 Greek who is trying to work his way back into his accustomed position inside the ranking top 10 lifted his game in the second set to reach the second round 7-6 (4), 6-3 over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego.

Tsitsipas played a quarter-final this month in Rotterdam, his best showing of the season following a first-round Australian Open exit.

The fourth seed faces Karen Khachanov at the Aviation Club.

The winner called his initial effort “not an easy first-round match.”

“There was some trouble in the tie-break. But it was great towards the end.

“I came up with some good returns and I think my attacking game came out in that moment (late in the opening set)

“I was not backing down and that was something I was pleased with. The second set felt like the better set; I just went for my shots and they worked.”

Tsitsipas now leads Sonego 4-0 in their career series; the Greek last won a title 10 months ago as he repeated as Monte Carlo clay champion.

Earlier, 20204 Montreal Masters winner Alexei Popyrin set up an all-Aussie second-round clash with No. 2 seed Alex de Minaur with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Lebanese wild card Hady Habib 6-2, 6-4.

Popyrin, who has played only four matches in 2025, now stands 1-3 on the season.

2018 winner Roberto Bautista Agut advanced over Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Another Arab wild card exited, with Zizou Bergs defeating Tunisian Aziz Dougaz 6-3, 6-3.