Dubai’s centre court smelled like the end of an era.
Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev met for the sixth time. A generational clash, almost symbolic. In the end, logic won. Medvedev 6-2, 6-3. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Because this match was more than a scoreline.
Medvedev in control, Wawrinka gutsy
Daniil Medvedev didn’t hang about. Tough on the return, surgical in long rallies, deadly in the right spots. He broke six times. Constant pressure on the Swiss serve.
Wawrinka still fought. He grabbed two breaks, thumped heavy forehands, that one‑handed backhand still a thing of beauty. But against Medvedev’s relentlessness, every tiny dip was punished straight away.
Medvedev Takes Out Wawrinka 🤝@DaniilMedwed defeats Wawrinka 6-2 6-3 to move into Round 3 in Dubai@DDFTennis | #ddftennis pic.twitter.com/agv8s7Zl3O
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 25, 2026
The Russian did what was expected. No drama.
A standing ovation for a legend
At the end, the crowd knew what they’d seen.
A standing ovation for Wawrinka. Quiet, heartfelt. The Swiss will play his final season in 2026 before he finally hangs up his racquet. And every outing now comes with weight.
He won it all. Three Grand Slam titles. Epic wars. A career carved out of grit and guts.
In Dubai he lost a match. He left with a moment.
Medvedev into the quarters, eyeing the next test
For Medvedev the target is obvious. Quarterfinals next, against Jenson Brooksby or Karen Khachanov.
He’s building momentum here. Big serve, flawless court coverage, nails the big points.
But for a few minutes on Tuesday night, the match was about something else.
It was about respect. And about passing the torch.
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