ATP Dubai Day 1 Preview: Tsitsipas, Popyrin, and Zhang Aim for Strong Starts

The opening day of the ATP Dubai Tennis Championships features a number of interesting players looking to build momentum ahead of next month’s Sunshine Double. There are six matches on the slate for day one and as always, we’ll be offering our predictions for all of them, including Karen Khachanov vs. Dan Evans here on LWOT. But who will cement their place in the second round?

ATP Dubai Day 1 Predictions

Despite a very strong finish to 2024, Alexey Popyrin has struggled to consolidate his position in 2025 and is still looking for his first win of the season. Losses in the opening rounds of Brisbane, Australian Open, Rotterdam and Doha have halted their momentum, making this an important match for them to gain confidence. Hady Habib, although a very vulnerable player, will look to take advantage of Popyrin’s poor form but his lack of experience at this level makes an upset unlikely. If Popyrin can regain his rhythm, his superior hitting power could carry him to victory, but his recent struggles suggest he may have to work harder than expected to secure victory.

Giovani Mpetshi Perricard vs Zhang Zhizhen
Head-to-head: Zhang 1-0 Mpetshi Pericard

This could be the most competitive match of the three, with Giovani Mpetshi Pericard’s explosive serve and powerful play providing a real challenge for Zhang Zhizhen. The Frenchman has made progress recently, but Zhang’s greater experience on the ATP Tour gives him the edge. If Mpetshi Pericard serves well, they can keep the match close, but Zhang’s better play and better movement will help her overcome the big serve threat. Expect a close contest, possibly decided by some tiebreak, with Pericard having a slightly lower chance of advancing.

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Lorenzo Sonego

Head to head: Tsitsipas 3-0 Sonego

Although Stefanos Tsitsipas has struggled with consistency in recent months, he remains the favorite against Lorenzo Sonego, especially on fast hard courts like Dubai. Tsitsipas holds a commanding lead in one-on-one battles and will naturally hold his edge in baseline firepower and shot-making ability. Sonego is always a dangerous opponent with his aggressive play and strong serve, but as long as Tsitsipas doesn’t falter, his superior experience in big matches should help him win a tight match.