DUBAI: Greek ace Stefanos Tsitsipas cruised past Tallon Griekspoor at the Dubai championships on Friday to set up a final with in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Tsitsipas took just ihr 23min to see off his Dutch rival, 6-4, 6-4.

Auger-Aliassime had a more challenging struggle before ousting Frenchman Quentin Halys 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 on what he described as a `tough day`.

`I do not know how I pulled it through today, he said. `We were both feeling a bit tired I think.

`My attitude was just to have positive thoughts especially when you are having a tough day like today. I did that well.

The Canadian went a set down after being broken from 40-15 in the 12th game.

`Dealing with tough, hot conditions, you just got to dig deep,` he said.

He then broke the Frenchman in fifth game ofthe second set and levelled that match.

Halys went 3-1 down in the final set and Auger-Aliassime dug in to reach his third final of the season. He won the first two, in Adelaide in January and in Montpellier in February.

Tsitsipas broke Griekspoor to go 5-4 up in the first set and held his serve.

The Dutchman was nursing a painful back in the sec-ond set, as Tsitsipas won in straight sets.

Tsitsipas did not face a break point as he went through to his 30th career final.

`I feel extremely happy that I was able to avoid the drama today, and play good tennis from the beginning until the end,` said Tsitsipas.

`I felt that my focus levels were at their highest so far, from any match I`ve played this week.

`Every match has a new teaching, something new to offer me in terms of experience and knowledge, I`m trying to soak it all in and use that wisdom effectively.`-AFP