The marathon that is the February tennis swing is finally coming to end. And it will go out with a bang, as this week’s schedule features a pair of 500-point tournaments (Dubai, Acapulco) in addition to an ATP 250 (Santiago). Among the stars taking the court are Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, and Casper Ruud.
Let’s break down the upcoming busy week on the ATP Tour.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Where: Dubai, U.A.E.
Surface: Hard
Points: 500
Prize money: $3,311,005
Top seed: Felix Auger-Aliassime
Defending champion: Stefanos Tsitsipas
Draw analysis: The second leg of the Middle East swing feels a little bit different with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner skipping Dubai following their Doha appearances. That makes the title entirely up for grabs, although the field remains strong thanks in part to Auger-Aliassime, Bublik, Medvedev, Jack Draper, Andrey Rublev, and Jakub Mensik. Draper played a Davis Cup rubber for Great Britain earlier this month but this marks his first tournament entry since last summer’s U.S. Open. The left-hander has a favorable draw before possibly facing Rublev or Tsitsipas — the defending champion — in the quarterfinals. Bublik, Mensik, Ugo Humbert, Hubert Hurkacz, and Tallon Griekspoor also find themselves in a strong bottom half of the bracket. At the top of the draw, Auger-Aliassime could meet Doha runner-up Arthur Fils in the last eight and either Medvedev or Khachanov in the semis.
Hot: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexander Bublik, Jakub Mensik
Cold: Jack Draper, Alexei Popyrin, Jan-Lennard Struff, Valentin Royer, Alexander Shevchenko, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Quarterfinal predictions: Denis Shapovalov over Felix Auger-Aliassime, Karen Khachanov over Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev over Arthur Rinderknech, and Alexander Bublik over Jakub Mensik
Semifinals: Khachanov over Shapovalov and Bublik over Rublev
Final: Bublik over Khachanov
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Where: Acapulco, Mexico
Surface: Hard
Points: 500
Prize money: $2,469,450
Top seed: Alexander Zverev
2025 champion: Tomas Machac (not playing)
Draw analysis: The depth of the Acapulco field is especially impressive. Among the unseeded players in the draw are Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils, Brandon Nakashima, and Delray Beach finalist Sebastian Korda. Zverev’s path to the final is relatively favorable, although he could meet either Grigor Dimitrov or familiar foe Cameron Norrie in the quarters. Ruud may not be in great form, but he also has a great chance to reach the last four this week. Other potential quarterfinal clashes are De Minaur vs. Valentin Vacherot and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Frances Tiafoe. However, Tiafoe could have a tough opening match on his hands with Nuno Borges and Davidovich could face Korda in round two.
Hot: Alex de Minaur, Valentin Vacherot, Sebastian Korda, Eliot Spizzirri, Rafael Jodar
Cold: Flavio Cobolli, Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils, Daniel Altmaier, Mattia Bellucci, Terence Atmane
Quarterfinal predictions: Alexander Zverev over Grigor Dimitrov, Casper Ruud over Flavio Cobolli, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina over Nuno Borges, and Alex de Minaur over Valentin Vacherot
Semifinals: Zverev over Ruud and De Minaur over Davidovich Fokina
Final: De Minaur over Zverev
BCI Seguros Chile Open
Where: Santiago, Chile
Surface: Clay
Points: 250
Prize money: $700,045
Top seed: Francisco Cerundolo
2025 champion: Laslo Djere (not playing)
Draw analysis: There was carnage throughout the week in Rio de Janeiro, so who knows what to expect in Santiago? Francisco Cerundolo is a question mark after dealing with a back injury in Rio, while Luciano Darderi and Sebastian Baez also bowed out early. On the bright side, it at least means that those three title favorites are well rested for Santiago. Darderi and Baez are on a collision course for the semis, but they could be tested by several opponents who excelled in Rio. Ignacio Buse and Thiago Agustin are going head-to-head in round one after advancing to the semis and quarters in Rio, respectively. Rio semifinalist Vit Kopriva could be Darderi’s second-round foe. A similarly well-stocked top half of the bracket includes Cerundolo, Matteo Berrettini, Alejandro Tabilo, and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Hot: Sebastian Baez, Francisco Comesana, Camilo Ugo Carabelli
Cold: Alejandro Tabilo, Nicolas Jarry, Cristian Garin, Damir Dzumhir, Thiago Seyboth Wild
Quarterfinal predictions: Matteo Berrettini over Francisco Cerundolo, Nicolas Jarry over Camilo Ugo Carabelli, Sebastian Baez over Thiago Agustin Tirante, and Luciano Darderi over Francisco Comesana
Semifinals: Darderi over Baez and Berrettini over Jarry
Final: Darderi over Berrettini