Mon Feb 24 06:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Khachanov Favored in Dubai Rematch Against Evans; Tsitsipas Expected to Continue Dominance Over Sonego
**Dubai, UAE – February 23, 2025** – The ATP 500 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships main draw kicks off Monday with a highly anticipated rematch between Karen Khachanov and Dan Evans. Their first-round clash promises to be a compelling encounter, echoing their epic five-hour, 35-minute battle at last year’s US Open, a match Evans shockingly won despite trailing 4-0 in the fifth set.
Despite Evans’s unlikely 5-0 head-to-head record against Khachanov, the betting odds heavily favor the 21st-ranked Russian. Evans, currently ranked 167th, has struggled significantly since his US Open victory, suffering early exits in qualifying at the Australian Open and Rotterdam, as well as experiencing setbacks on the Challenger circuit. While Khachanov isn’t in peak form, his strong track record in the Middle East – including a Doha title last year and consistent performances in Dubai – makes him the predicted winner.
Another noteworthy matchup sees 11th-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas facing Lorenzo Sonego. Tsitsipas is expected to extend his perfect 3-0 record against the Italian, despite both players experiencing inconsistent form recently. While Sonego reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, he’s since suffered early losses in Rotterdam and Marseille.
The article concludes with a personal anecdote from the author, Ricky Match, who recounts witnessing the entirety of Evans’s improbable US Open victory alongside an unnamed companion, adding a humorous human element to the highly anticipated upcoming rematch.
First Piper 