Get ready for an exciting week of tennis in Dubai! The 2026 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is set to ignite the hard courts of the United Arab Emirates. This ATP 500 tournament promises an action-packed schedule, featuring some of the sport's biggest stars. But here's where it gets controversial... will the defending champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas, retain his title, or will a new champion emerge?
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is an annual event, and this year's edition is shaping up to be a thrilling one. Mark your calendars for February 23rd to 28th, 2026, as the tournament director, Salah Tahlak, prepares for an unforgettable week.
Who's Playing? The field is stacked with talent. Headlining the event are Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, and former champions Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev. But it's not just about the big names; keep an eye out for rising stars like Jack Draper and Jakub Mensik, who are sure to put on a show.
When's the Draw? The draw for the tournament will be made on Saturday, February 21st, at 1 p.m. at Majlis, DDF Tennis Stadium. This is where the excitement truly begins, as the players learn their fate and the tournament's path unfolds.
Schedule Breakdown:
- Qualifying: Saturday, February 21st - Sunday, February 22nd at 11 a.m.
- Main Draw: Monday, February 23rd - Saturday, February 28th
- Monday to Thursday sessions start at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Friday session begins at 1 p.m., with singles matches starting no earlier than 5 p.m.
- Doubles Final: Saturday, February 28th at 4:30 p.m.
- Singles Final: Saturday, February 28th at 7 p.m.
Prize Money and Points: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships offers a total prize money of US $3,311,005. Here's a breakdown of the singles and doubles rewards:
Singles:
- Winner: $619,160 and 500 points
- Finalist: $333,160 and 330 points
- Semi-finalist: $177,555 and 200 points
- Quarter-finalist: $90,710 and 100 points
- Second Round: $48,420 and 50 points
- First Round: $25,825 and 0 points
Doubles ($ per team):
- Winner: $203,390 and 500 points
- Finalist: $108,470 and 300 points
- Semi-finalist: $54,880 and 180 points
- Quarter-finalist: $27,450 and 90 points
- First Round: $14,200 and 0 points
How to Watch: You won't want to miss a moment of the action. Tune in to TennisTV for live coverage, and check the TV Schedule for broadcast details.
Stay Connected: Follow the tournament's official social media accounts to stay up-to-date with all the latest news and highlights. Use the hashtag #DDFTennis to join the conversation and share your thoughts with the tennis community.
History and Records: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships has a rich history, with some of the sport's legends leaving their mark. Roger Federer holds the record for most titles (8) and was also the oldest champion at 37 in 2019. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal claimed the title as the youngest champion at just 19 in 2006.
And this is the part most people miss... the lowest-ranked champion was No. 61 Jerome Golmard in 1999, proving that upsets and surprises can happen in tennis!
As we gear up for the 2026 edition, who do you think will make history in Dubai? Will a new champion be crowned, or will a familiar face reign supreme? Share your predictions and join the discussion in the comments below!
