TennisReport2020

WTA DRAW 102

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ATP DRAW 104

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WINNING CELEBRATIONS

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BEST ON-COURT ACTION

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WTA FINALS There were countless tremendous rallies which It is the reigning Wimbledon champion’s
stretched both players to the limit, and the seventh title together and their second of
Top seed Simona Halep defeated Elena outcome of the final remained in doubt right the year after winning Brisbane, and they
Rybakina 5(6-7 3-6 6-3) to claim her second up until the final ball as both players competed were also runners-up at the 2019 WTA
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title. at the very highest level. Finals and the 2020 Australian Open. It
It was arguably the most dramatic final in the Rybakina, making her debut in Dubai, began was also Su-wei Hsieh’s third consecutive
history of the women’s event and a fitting end the celebration of her arrival into the world’s appearance in the Dubai final, after she
to the 20th anniversary celebrations of the top 20 this week by defeating recently finished as runner-up in 2018 with Shuai
tournament hosting the WTA Tour. crowned Australian Open champion and Peng.
In what proved to be an exciting week of seventh seed Sofia Kenin and then followed The presentation was made in the presence
ups and downs, Halep saved a match point that up by dismissing second seed Karolina of His Highness Sheikh Hasher Bin
in her opening match against Ons Jabeur, Pliskova, Katerina Siniakova and eighth seed Maktoum Al Maktoum, President of Tennis
fought back from a set down to defeat Aryna Petra Martic. Over two and a half hours of Emirates, Colm McLoughlin – Executive
Sabalenka and then produced a near flawless captivating tennis, she gave everything she Vice Chairman and CEO, Dubai Duty Free,
performance against Jennifer Brady in the had in what was a magnificent final. Ramesh Cidambi – Chief Operating Officer,
semi-finals, before bringing her week to a Top seeds and defending champions Su- Dubai Duty Free, Salah Tahlak, Executive
dramatic conclusion on Saturday night. wei Hsieh and Barbora Strycova successfully Vice President – Corporate Services, Dubai
defended their doubles title with a tense 6-3 5-7 Duty Free and Tournament Director – Dubai
109 5-10 win over the fifth-seeded pair of Barbora Duty Free Tennis Championships, Sinead El
Krejcikova and Saisai Zheng. Individually Sibai – Senior Vice President – Marketing,
ranked No.1 and 2 in the world, they are the Dubai Duty Free, Mickey Lawler, President
first team to retain their title since Cara Black – WTA, Naser Yousef, Secretary General –
and Liezel Huber won in 9-2007. Tennis Emirates.

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ATP FINALS Djokovic has now won 18 consecutive matches John Peers and Michael Venus defeated
this season in a period that has seen him guide Raven Klaasen and Oliver Marach 2-6 3-6 to
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has been crowned Serbia to ATP Cup glory, lift an unprecedented win the doubles trophy. It is their first ATP
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships eighth Australian Open crown as well as Dubai, Tour title together, and they claimed all
winner for the fifth time with a commanding and he now holds 79 career titles. their victories during the week in straight
4-6 3-6 victory over second seed Stefanos The match was close throughout, but it was sets, including a quarter-final upset over
Tsitsipas. Djokovic who held the edge in what was always defending Dubai champions and 2020
It was the first men’s final between the top an entertaining finale to the tournament. After Australian Open winners Rajeev Ram and
two seeds in Dubai since 2015, and Tsitsipas saving a break point at 2-2, Djokovic claimed Joe Salisbury.
was denied the title for the second straight the only break of the first set to lead 3-5. The presentation was made in the presence
year after falling to Roger Federer in the Djokovic broke again to lead 2-3 in the second of His Highness Sheikh Hasher Bin
2019 final. It was also the fifth Dubai final in set but was unable to consolidate his lead as Maktoum Al Maktoum, President of Tennis
tournament history between the top two Tsitsipas levelled at 3-3. A final break to lead Emirates, Colm McLoughlin – Executive
seeds, but the first time that the top seed has 4-5 though was decisive as Djokovic served out Vice Chairman and CEO, Dubai Duty Free,
won the contest. the match at love. Ramesh Cidambi – Chief Operating Officer,
Despite his tentative start, -17time Grand Slam Dubai Duty Free, Salah Tahlak, Executive
111 champion Djokovic was happy with the way Vice President – Corporate Services – Dubai
the rest of the match unfolded. Duty Free and Tournament Director – Dubai
Duty Free Tennis Championships, Sinead
El Sibai – Senior Vice President – Marketing,
Dubai Duty Free, Naser Yousef, Secretary
General – Tennis Emirates.

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