Roger Federer returns to the desert kingdom of Dubai where things are better | ATP Tour

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Federer returns to the desert kingdom of Dubai, where it all adds up

Swiss legend wins eight titles in Dubai, including his 100th Tour-level crown in 2019

February 24, 2026

Roger Federer and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships have long been closely linked, with the record eight-time champion returning to the place where he wrote history on Monday.

No player has shaped the hard-court game like the Swiss maestro, whose blend of elegance and sustained excellence helped make Dubai one of the defining stops of his career. The former PIF ATP No. 1 lifted the trophy for the first time in 2003, a breakthrough season that would see him reach the top of the sport.

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Federer added seven more titles in Dubai and has a 53-6 record in his playing career, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The event became a regular barometer of his early-season form and the site of title battles, often a harbinger of greater success later in the year.

Returning to the ATP 500 tournament on Monday, Federer watched from the stands as compatriot and 2016 champion Stan Wawrinka defeated Benjamin Hassan. After the game, Hassan met the Swiss legend and relished his brush with greatness.

“I’ll never wash my hands again,” Hassan joked with a smile after shaking hands with the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

In 2019, Federer achieved one of the most meaningful milestones of his career in Dubai. He claimed his 100th Tour-level title by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the title, becoming only the second man in the Open era to reach the century mark. Only Jimmy Connors (109) had previously achieved this feat, and Novak Djokovic has since joined this exclusive club with 101 titles.

The victory further cemented Federer’s place among the legends of the ATP’s No. 1 club. He spent a record 310 weeks at No. 1, including 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 – a period of dominance that overlapped with his three wins in Dubai. In many ways, the game mirrored the trajectory of his career: early breakthroughs, sustained dominance and late-career milestones.

Dubai is more than just a tournament stop for Federer. Over the years, he has often been stationed in the city during the offseason, taking advantage of the training facilities and warm weather conditions to prepare for the new season. Familiarity brings comfort, and comfort brings success. Federer’s victory in Dubai also spanned generations: from his first title at age 21 to his 100th title at age 37.

Now 40-year-old Wawrinka, who spoke to Federer after the match, is one of five former champions in track and field in 2026, along with Tsitsipas, Ugo Humbert, Daniil Medvedev and Andrei Rublev.