Top seed Auger-Aliassime books Dubai quarter-final spot, Medvedev cruises past Wawrinka

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Auger-Aliassime[/a] produced a clinical returning display against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mpetshi-perricard-giovanni/ITe9m2F8/"]Mpetshi Perricard[/a], overcoming a sluggish start to claim a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/mpetshi-perricard-g-ITe9m2F8/?mid=r9jiqPCq"]6-4, 6-4[/a] win.[/p][p]The world number eight went 3-0 down in the first set, but started to get a read on Mpetshi Perricard's serve, breaking twice to clinch the opener.[/p][p]A single break early in the second set was all Auger-Aliassime needed for the victory, as he displayed the type of tennis which saw him reach a career-high ranking of five in the world at the end of 2025.[/p][embed guid="f91f88fc-6393-4be0-a1cc-aeddd24e6649" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2026653174325461187" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Canadian, who won the title in Montpellier and reached the Rotterdam final this year, will be looking to replicate his stunning indoor form on the outdoor courts over the coming weeks, starting here in Dubai.[/p][p]Eight of Auger-Aliassime's nine career titles have come indoors, with his sole outdoor triumph coming in Adelaide last year.[/p][p]Czech [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehecka-jiri/6PlgfXKR/"]Jiri Lehecka[/a] awaits him in the quarters, following his hard-fought [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/carreno-busta-p-W8WmcXdq/lehecka-j-6PlgfXKR/?mid=pSgzt1s1"]7-6(6), 6-4[/a] win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/carreno-busta-pablo/W8WmcXdq/"]Pablo Carreno-Busta[/a].[/p][p]Meanwhile, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/draper-jack/SWxNhpmK/"]Jack Draper[/a]'s return from a lengthy injury lay-off came to an end in Dubai, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rinderknech-arthur/pIxZZsof/"]Arthur Rinderknech[/a] battling to a nail-biting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/draper-j-SWxNhpmK/rinderknech-a-pIxZZsof/?mid=YgmPMP1D"]7-5, 6-7(4), 6-4[/a] victory over the Brit.[/p][p]Draper, who reached a career-high ranking of fourth in the world last year before he suffered a serious arm injury, has dropped down to 15th and will now head to Indian Wells next week as he attempts to defend his crown - and a lot of rankings points.[/p][h2]Medvedev coasts past Wawrinka[/h2][p]Third seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Medvedev[/a] eased to a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/wawrinka-s-Uo9lu6le/?mid=URPd6rYF"]6-2, 6-3[/a] victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wawrinka-stan/Uo9lu6le/"]Stanislas Wawrinka[/a], as the Swiss star said goodbye to the tournament.[/p][p]The champion back in 2016, Wawrinka, made his first appearance in Dubai 20 years ago, and was given a presentation at the end of the match to celebrate his illustrious career.[/p][p]Playing his last match in Dubai after announcing he would be retiring at the end of 2026, three-time major winner Wawrinka was unable to find any rhythm against the 2021 US Open champion, falling in an hour and 13 minutes.[/p][p]Medvedev was far too good from the back of the court for his 40-year-old opponent, suffocating him with his relentless depth and retrieval skills. The heat also began to take a toll on Wawrinka, making 35 unforced errors.[/p][embed guid="3c180649-122d-4160-b1d2-e1e98e92bb02" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQp3SX0enPc" social-type="youtube" /][p]2023 champion Medvedev will be hoping to end his Middle Eastern swing on a high, following his last-16 defeat to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsitsipas-stefanos/hb6oWfc6/"]Stefanos Tsitsipas[/a] in Doha last week.[/p][p]He will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brooksby-jenson/MoOtVkbN/"]Jenson Brooksby[/a] in the quarter-finals, after he claimed a brilliant [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/brooksby-j-MoOtVkbN/khachanov-k-4bNPtZT5/?mid=AgXdyPG6"]7-6(6), 6-4[/a] win over seventh seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/khachanov-karen/4bNPtZT5/"]Karen Khachanov[/a]. The American is making his debut in Dubai.[/p][p]There was another shock result as second seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bublik-alexander/t0WN9vR6/"]Alexander Bublik[/a] was dumped out by Dutchman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griekspoor-tallon/f3zfMU5i/"]Tallon Griekspoor[/a], losing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/bublik-a-t0WN9vR6/griekspoor-t-f3zfMU5i/?mid=KbZMGLAd"]6-3, 7-6(4)[/a] in an hour and 23 minutes.[/p][p]There were no such issues for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rublev-andrey/AeAn4gP0/"]Andrey Rublev[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a], who both secured spots in the last eight.[/p][embed guid="f6cc5f0c-a9cc-43ad-9a62-d5e245d5db8a" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AMYl9V6UY" social-type="youtube" /]