First round action at the Dubai ATP 500 continues on Tuesday, with an exciting showdown featuring Ugo Humbert and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Jakub Mensik, who played well in Doha, faces Hubert Hurkacz.
Ugo Humbert vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
Humbert and Tsitsipas will be playing each other for the fifth time in their career when they compete in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday. The head-to-head series stands at 3-1 in Humbert’s favor, including 2-1 on hard outdoor courts. They have not faced each other since 2023, when the Frenchman scored a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory at the Shanghai Masters.
Still, Tsitsipas should fancy his chances in Dubai. The 30th-ranked Greek is a perfect 15-3 at the tournament in three straight finals – including the title last year. He has not lost before the quarters in four games. Tsitsipas is also playing well so far this season, boasting a 9-4 record. Humbert is 4-5 in his last nine games, so this wouldn’t be an upset even though the lefty is ranked high.
Pick: Tsitsipas at 3
(6) Jakub Mensik vs. Hubert Hurkacz
By the way, Mensik got the biggest win of his career last week. The 20-year-old Czech upset world No. 2 Jannik Sinner 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals in Doha before losing to Arthur Fils in the semis. Mensik is hot to start the 2026 campaign, sporting an 11-3 record that includes a title in Auckland.
Next up for the world number 13 on Tuesday is a third match against Hurkacz, who has won both of their previous matches – in five sets at the 2024 Australian Open and a third tiebreaker at the 2025 Rome Masters. Mensik wasn’t going to be very close in those two matchups, and this time he should be able to get over the hump. Hurkacz was on fire in the United Cup, but the 73rd-ranked Pole has cooled off in a big way since the first week of the season.
Choose: Mensik in 3
