Battling through a controversial first-round clash, Auger-Aliassime beat Alexander Bublik in three sets, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, to advance to the last 16.

Auger-Aliassime then took down Nuno Borges, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, booking his place in his fourth quarter-final of 2025.

He then secured victory over Marin Cilic in another three-set battle, setting up a semi-final clash with French qualifier Quentin Halys.

After the match, Auger-Aliassime revealed the advantage he thinks he’s had over his tour rivals that has given him the edge so far in 2025.

Felix Auger-Aliassime thinks having ‘time to recover’ at the end of 2024 is now paying dividends

Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Canadian ATP Tour star spoke openly about the problems he faced at the end of 2024.

“Last year was difficult for different reasons,” said Auger-Aliassime.

“At the end, I was struggling with back issues, in Asia, indoors, and then played my last match in Basel [Open].”

The world number 21 then explained how the decision to finish his 2024 season early is now paying off.

“I guess I had time to recover and rest and go on vacation and had more weeks than other players to train,” he said.

“We did a good job, I have to give credit to my fitness coach, mental coach, everybody who has sat alongside, not on the court, but with me on the side, they did well and that is a big reason why.”

Auger-Aliassime’s conditioning has proved a real strength of his in 2025, securing eight of his 15 wins in deciding sets.

The 24-year-old went on to share his goal for 2025, that may not be all that far away.

“Gradually I hope that this year, by the end of this year, I’m closing in on the top ten, hopefully even Turin,” said Auger-Aliassime.

“That would be a great year.”

With his win over Cilic, Auger Aliassime jumped to third in the ‘Live Race to Turin’, as he looks well on course to qualify for the year-end finals.

As things stand, Auger-Aliassime would qualify for the ATP Finals for the second time in his career, last appearing in Turin three years ago, exiting at the Round Robin stage.

Felix Auger-Aliassime is ‘pumped’ ahead of his Dubai semi-final match with Quentin Halys

Auger-Aliassime took to X after his quarter-final win in Dubai, as he looked ahead to Friday’s semi-final clash with Halys.

“Enjoying my time in Dubai,” he said.

“Pumped to get through and have another opportunity to battle it out in [the] semis tomorrow.

“Allez”

Auger-Aliassime will face a tough test from the French qualifier Halys in the last four, who has already won five matches this week.

• QF – Beat Luca Nardi, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6
• 2R – Beat Roberto Bautista Agut, 7-6, 6-4
• 1R – Beat Andrey Rublev, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6
• Q 2R – Beat Pavel Kotov, 7-6, 7-5
• Q 1R – Beat Yasutaka Uchiyama, 6-3, 7-6

Halys’ most impressive victory came against Qatar Open champion Andrey Rublev in the first round, as he fought back from a set down to secure his maiden top-ten win.

The pair will face off on Friday, February 28th, as they look to advance to the final in Dubai.