Stefanos Tsitsipas: Dubai Triumph Boosts ATP Ranking to No.9

After nearly a year without a trophy, Stefanos Tsitsipas claimed the crown at the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai on Saturday (01.03.2025), playing with a mysterious new racket. This marked his first title since Monte Carlo in April last year, ending a long drought in ATP 500 tournaments and returning him to the top 10 (No.9 globally) for the first time since May. The 26-year-old Greek player, who reached No.3 in 2023 after reaching the Australian Open final that year, experienced a concerning decline recently, losing in the opening rounds of the last two Grand Slams. According to Reuters, switching rackets for Dubai added the firepower needed to secure his 12th career title. With a blackened frame during testing, Tsitsipas defeated Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini, and Tallon Griekspoor. ‘Comfort is something that enhances my game,’ Tsitsipas said about his racket ahead of the final. ‘I’ve been trying to add this to my game. I received some extra help. I’ve discussed how balls and courts have changed over the past two years, and this is what I’m adapting to.’ Tsitsipas emphasized the importance of seeking ways to improve his game: ‘These changes are sometimes necessary because you don’t want to stay in the same pattern,’ he added. At the top of the ATP rankings is Italian Jannik Sinner, currently suspended for doping allegations, followed by Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz starting this week’s Indian Wells Masters 1000. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who reached the Dubai final, climbed three spots to No.18.