After the fierce battle in Doha, they quickly "reconciled" in Dubai—the "Messi" duo is an endless CP to follow!

The dust has settled in Dubai, yet the story of champion Medvedev remains worth telling. The Messi CP has added a new chapter, continuing their previous synchronized record. Check out this curious statistic: the two always win back-to-back titles at the same tournament. Observe:

ATP Finals

2019 Tsitsipas

2020 Medvedev

Early in 2019, the Greek player began attracting worldwide attention with his stunning upset of defending champion Federer at the Australian Open. Having reached the Next Gen ATP Finals the previous year, he successfully qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time. There, he defeated the Swiss maestro again in the semifinals and overcame Thiem in the final, claiming the title on his debut. Meanwhile, US Open runner-up Medvedev suffered a group-stage exit after losing all three matches.

The following year, Medvedev, already a multiple hard-court champion, was in full form, capturing back-to-back titles at the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals to close the season.

Marseille

2020 Tsitsipas

2021 Medvedev

Mallorca

2021 Medvedev

2022 Tsitsipas

Los Cabos

2022 Medvedev

2023 Tsitsipas

If winning back-to-back at major events seems reasonably probable for two players consistently ranked in the world's top ten, then achieving this pattern repeatedly even at 250-level tournaments (with consecutive years, no less) feels truly uncanny! Take the Mallorca event: neither is particularly strong on grass, though Medvedev, a multiple Wimbledon semifinalist, holds a slight edge. Yet they both managed to triumph at one of the few grass-court tournaments, continuing their "couple's conquest of titles."

Dubai

2025 Tsitsipas

2026 Medvedev

Last season, Tsitsipas had a rather inconsistent year but still achieved a notable breakthrough: finally ending his drought at the 500-level by winning the Dubai title.

At this year's Doha event, the long-awaited "Messi" showdown took place. Surprisingly, Tsitsipas emerged victorious, though he couldn't maintain his momentum. As defending champion in Dubai, he drew in-form former French No. 1 Humbert in the first round—a tough draw that led to an early exit. The massive points loss caused him to drop out of the top 30 in the new week's rankings.

With this Dubai edition, the pair have synchronized their triumphs five times already, and this "love-hate" pattern between them shows no sign of stopping. However, Medvedev has regained his form with three titles since late last season. How will the Greek respond?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qi Ye)