Australian No. 2 seed Alex de Minaur knocked out in upset at Dubai Open

Alex de Minaur experienced a major upset at the Dubai Open, bowing out to 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic in a closely contested three-set match.

The second seed from Australia succumbed with scores of 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 after two hours and 17 minutes, extinguishing any hopes of an all-Australian encounter in the last 16 against fellow countryman Alexei Popyrin.

De Minaur started sluggishly, dropping the initial set, but managed to find his rhythm to equalise in the second.

In the deciding set, he created two break points but was unable to capitalise on either opportunity, racking up 32 unforced errors amid challenging windy conditions.

Meanwhile, the veteran Cilic, aged 36, had not secured a Tour-level victory in 2025 and hadn’t triumphed over a top-10 player in nearly two years.

“Winning the first three games and getting a feel for the court and conditions was an excellent start for me,” remarked Cilic, currently ranked 187th.

“It was a bit blustery, but I felt very good striking the ball,” he added.

“I’m aware of how dangerous Alex is. He’s a remarkable runner on the court and retrieves balls that seem impossible. I needed to stay both patient and aggressive, and I’m thrilled to have maintained that high level throughout the match.”

Popyrin will now face Cilic, with the pair having equal victories in their two previous encounters.

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Aussie qualifier Chris O’Connell advanced to the second round after his opponent, world number 16 Grigor Dimitrov, retired due to injury following a 6-0 loss in the first set that lasted just 24 minutes.

O’Connell is set to meet former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, who recently overcame Novak Djokovic.

Third seed Andrey Rublev, fresh from his Qatar Open title, suffered an early exit, falling to qualifier Quentin Halys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

This victory marked the first time for 77th-ranked Halys to conquer a top-10 opponent, and he is now set to face Roberto Bautista Agut.

“It’s a bit hard to take in right now,” said the 28-year-old Frenchman. “It was a mentally taxing match. Andrey may have been fatigued from his week in Doha. Winning against a top-10 player is a notable milestone in your career, and I’m delighted it happened today.”

Rublev, ranked ninth, was the defending champion at the Dubai title back in 2022, and just recently clinched the Qatar Open by defeating Jack Draper.

Top seed Daniil Medvedev triumphed over Jan-Lennard Struff with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (4) and will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the next round.

Nuno Borges defeated eighth-seeded Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1, while other victors included fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

-with AP