Aussie weekly wrap: Popyrin claims Dubai doubles crown | 3 March, 2025 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Alexei Popyrin secures his maiden doubles title as Daria Saville and Ajla Tomljanovic attain singles semifinals in Merida and Austin respectively.

Melbourne, 3 March 2025 | Dan Imhoff

Alexei Popyrin’s first ATP doubles trophy has arrived in dramatic trend after he and India’s Yuki Bhambri fended off 4 championship factors to disclaim second seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in Dubai.

The scratch unseeded pairing surprised the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champions 3-6 7-6(12) 10-8 for the ATP 500 title to cap a run that additionally included wins over world No.1 duo Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic and Aussie John Friends and Jamie Murray.

“It’s been unbelievable. I’ve been coming to this event since I used to be a child. I grew up right here in Dubai and performed a number of tournaments on the Aviation Membership,” Popyrin mentioned. “It’s all the time particular coming again right here. To win a title, whether or not it’s singles or doubles, is all the time particular. I need to thank Yuki for being an unbelievable trainer in doubles, as a result of I don’t play a lot doubles.”

This week’s most excellent performers embody …

Ajla Tomljanovic: Taking advantage of a wildcard in Austin, USA, Tomljanovic made a run to her first WTA semifinal since Birmingham final June. The 31-year-old fell to eventual champion Jessica Pegula in three units and was assured of a top-100 return for her efforts.

Daria Saville: The previous world No.20 certified and landed her first tour-level major draw win since Wimbledon final 12 months over world No.19 Marta Kostyuk at Merida, Mexico earlier than a run to the semifinals. There she fell to Emiliana Arango in three units in her first semifinal since Hobart final 12 months.

Maya Joint: Constructing on a season of firsts, the 18-year-old downed world No.20 Donna Vekic for her maiden WTA 500 quarterfinal in Merida. Whereas the qualifier succumbed to Elina Evanesyan she was assured to make her top-100 debut.

Jason Kubler: The 31-year-old’s red-hot kind continued in Tasmania the place he collected his second straight Australian Professional Tour title in Launceston. Kubler denied Cruz Hewitt his first title on the M25 occasion, which got here on the heels of his Burnie triumph.

Cruz Hewitt: In his first skilled last, 16-year-old qualifier Hewitt got here up simply brief in opposition to the skilled Kubler. {The teenager} downed No.7 seed Dane Sweeny and No.2 seed Hsu Yu Hsiou of Chinese language Taipei en path to the ultimate.

Lizette Cabrera: The 27-year-old clinched her first title in nearly two years when she beat Japan’s Sakura Hosogi within the Launceston W35 last. Cabrera’s seventh ITF title snapped a four-match finals dropping streak.

John Friends: The 36-year-old reached the doubles semifinals in Dubai alongside Nice Britain’s Jamie Murray, following an upset of third seed Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz. It was Friends’ second males’s doubles semifinal alongside Murray this season after Dallas earlier this month.

Ellen Perez: The 29-year-old teamed with Alexandra Panova to succeed in the semifinals of the WTA 500 occasion in Merida. It was Perez’s third doubles semifinal of the season after Adelaide and her Abu Dhabi victory.

Elena Micic: Seeded second, the 20-year-old and New Zealand’s Monique Barry picked up their second straight doubles title in Tasmania after Burnie within the Launceston last. Micic/Barry beat Miho Kuramochi and Erika Sema in straight units for the trophy.

Kody Pearson: The 25-year-old and American Joshua Sheehy reached the ultimate of the Launceston ITF occasion the place they misplaced to Chinese language Taipei’s Hsu and Huang Tsung-Hao. It was Pearson’s second last of the season after Timaru, New Zealand.

Arina Rodionova: In her first ITF last since final Might, the 35-year-old fell to South Korea’s Sohyun Park within the W50 occasion in Ahmedabad. Rodionova was bidding for her 17^th ITF title.

Destanee Aiava: The 24-year-old reached her second straight ITF semifinal on the W75 occasion in Trnava, Slovakia. Aiava improved to 11-4 in any respect ranges for the 12 months on a run that included a win over second seed Chloe Paquet.

James McCabe: A win over the fifth seed, Kyrian Jacquet, was the springboard to a primary Challenger semifinal for McCabe in Bengaluru, India. The 21-year-old fell wanting a primary last in opposition to Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki in three units.

Tristan Schoolkate: The 23-year-old backed up his semifinal in Delhi together with his second quarterfinal on Indian soil, on the Bengaluru Challenger the place he narrowly succumbed to Billy Harris. It took his singles file to 10-4 since his defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner within the second spherical of the Australian Open.

Matthew Romios: In search of his second doubles Challenger title of the 12 months after Brisbane, the 25-year-old reached his second last in as many weeks in India. Seeded second alongside Blake Bayldon, the pair fell to high seeds Anirudh Chandrasekar and Ray Ho in Bengaluru, every week after their defeat within the Pune Challenger last.

Blake Bayldon: Bidding for his second doubles Challenger title of the season after Noumea, Bayldon misplaced his second straight last in India alongside Romios in Bengaluru.

Alex Bolt: The 32-year-old reached his second Challenger quarterfinal of the season in San Diego earlier than retiring injured in opposition to Kamil Majchrzak. Bolt downed the second seed, Tristan Boyer, within the opening spherical.

Gabriella da Silva Fick: The 24-year-old made her third straight Australian Professional Tour doubles semifinal after Brisbane and Burnie when she and Kaylah McPhee reached the final 4 in Launceston. The pair fell to eventual champions Micic/Barry.

Kaylah McPhee: In her first occasion in tandem with compatriot Da Silva Fick, the 27-year-old reached her second Australian Professional Tour doubles semifinal of the season in Launceston after Brisbane with Astra Sharma.