Dubai, UAE 23 – 28 February, 2026
Source: https://www.atptour.com/en/
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (popularly known as ATP Dubai) has grown from a modest debut in 1993 into one of the most prestigious stops on the ATP Tour. Known for its luxury, high prize money, and consistently elite player fields, it has become a crown jewel of the “Middle East Swing.”
### 🕒 The Origins (1993–2000)
The tournament was founded in 1993 as the Dubai Men’s Open.
- Humble Beginnings: In its first year, it was an ATP 250 event played at the Aviation Club. There was no permanent stadium; matches were held on hard courts surrounded by temporary scaffolding that sat about 3,000 fans.
- First Champion: The inaugural title was won by Czech player Karel Nováček, who defeated Fabrice Santoro in the final.
- The Venue: The iconic Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was officially inaugurated in 1996, providing a permanent, world-class home for the event.
### 🚀 Elevation to ATP 500 (2001–Present)
In 2001, the tournament was upgraded to the ATP 500 level (then called the International Series Gold), reflecting its growing influence.
- The “Big Three” Dominance: The 2000s and 2010s were defined by the rivalry between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who treated the Dubai courts like their personal practice grounds.
- Tournament of the Year: The event has won the “ATP 500 Tournament of the Year” award 11 times (as of 2024), a testament to its popularity among the players.
### 🏆 The Legends of Dubai
A few names are synonymous with this tournament’s history:
| Player | Titles | Key Era |
| Roger Federer | 8 | His 100th career title was famously won here in 2019. |
| Novak Djokovic | 5 | Dominated with a three-peat between 2009–2011. |
| Justine Henin | 4 | (WTA) The most successful woman in the tournament’s history. |
| Venus Williams | 3 | (WTA) Won back-to-back in 2009–2010 and again in 2014. |
### 💡 Notable Historical Milestones
- Federer’s Century: In 2019, Roger Federer defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to claim his 100th ATP singles title, making Dubai the backdrop for one of the greatest achievements in tennis history.
- Nadal vs. Federer (2006): One of the most famous finals occurred in 2006 when a young Rafael Nadal ended Federer’s 56-match winning streak on hard courts.
- WTA Integration: In 2001, a women’s tournament was added, which now alternates with Doha for the prestigious WTA 1000 status.
### Recent Successors
In the post-Federer/Djokovic era, the tournament has seen a variety of champions, including Aslan Karatsev (2021), Andrey Rublev (2022), Daniil Medvedev (2023), Ugo Humbert (2024), and most recently Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2025.
